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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 539 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Speaker's tip (Words = rate × minutes): Words = words per minute × minutes. Minutes = words ÷ words per minute. Words per minute = words ÷ minutes. Half a minute = half the rate: at 120 words a minute, 2 and a half minutes = 240 + 60 = 300 words. Seconds = words × 60 ÷ rate. Too long? Words to cut = words written − (rate × minutes). Stay a little under the limit for pauses and applause.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  2. 2.⏱️ Aarav reads a 50-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  4. 4.⏱️ Kabir reads a 375-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  6. 6.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) ignore the limit (c) cut the weakest part (d) speak super fast
  7. 7.✂️ Arjun’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  8. 8.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) far over the limit (c) a little under the limit
  9. 9.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 750 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  10. 10.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  11. 11.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  12. 12.⏱️ Meera reads a 240-word welcome speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute class presentation?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  15. 15.✂️ Tara’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 340 words. How many words must be cut?
  16. 16.⏱️ Vihaan’s class presentation has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  18. 18.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  19. 19.✂️ Ananya’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 300 words. How many words must be cut?
  20. 20.✂️ Tara’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 440 words. How many words must be cut?
  21. 21.✂️ Vihaan’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Vihaan speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  22. 22.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  23. 23.⏱️ Tara reads a 250-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.✂️ Rohan’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Rohan speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 280 words. How many words must be cut?
  25. 25.⏱️ Diya reads a 180-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Aarav reads a 375-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.✂️ Nisha’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 260 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.⏱️ Kabir’s welcome speech has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.✂️ Ishaan’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.⏱️ Kabir’s competition speech has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  31. 31.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  33. 33.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 120-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  34. 34.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 130 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.⏱️ Ishaan’s assembly talk has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Meera reads a 50-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Aarav reads a 100-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  38. 38.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 300–400 words a minute (c) 20–30 words a minute
  40. 40.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 100-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 220
  2. 30
  3. 140
  4. 150
  5. 120
  6. cut the weakest part
  7. 70
  8. a little under the limit
  9. 150
  10. 700
  11. 180
  12. 120
  13. 100
  14. 250
  15. 10
  16. 2
  17. 100
  18. 420
  19. 60
  20. 40
  21. 40
  22. 360
  23. 150
  24. 20
  25. 90
  26. 150
  27. 20
  28. 4
  29. 30
  30. 4
  31. 490
  32. 350
  33. 60
  34. 30
  35. 6
  36. 30
  37. 60
  38. 30
  39. 120–150 words a minute
  40. 60

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