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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 58 · 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.⏱️ Nisha reads a 375-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.✂️ Vihaan’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
  3. 3.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  4. 4.⏱️ Ananya’s welcome speech has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 280 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  6. 6.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 20–30 words a minute (b) 300–400 words a minute (c) 120–150 words a minute
  7. 7.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  8. 8.⏱️ Diya speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?
  9. 9.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) far over the limit
  10. 10.✂️ Rohan’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 470 words. How many words must be cut?
  11. 11.⏱️ Ananya’s science fair talk has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  12. 12.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 150-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  14. 14.⏱️ Rohan’s competition speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  15. 15.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) speak super fast (c) ignore the limit (d) cut the weakest part
  16. 16.✂️ Arjun’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 200 words. How many words must be cut?
  17. 17.✂️ Saanvi’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ Nisha’s class presentation has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.⏱️ Tara reads a 250-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  20. 20.✂️ Vihaan’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  21. 21.⏱️ Diya reads a 75-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  22. 22.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to skip the ending (c) to fit the time limit (d) to tire yourself
  23. 23.⏱️ Diya’s debate speech has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  24. 24.✂️ Saanvi’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 290 words. How many words must be cut?
  25. 25.⏱️ Aarav’s class presentation has 300 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute class presentation?
  27. 27.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
  28. 28.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  29. 29.⏱️ Diya’s welcome speech has 560 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  30. 30.✂️ Vihaan’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.✂️ Diya’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Diya speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  32. 32.✂️ Saanvi’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  33. 33.⏱️ Meera’s assembly talk has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  34. 34.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 240 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  35. 35.⏱️ Meera reads a 450-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  37. 37.⏱️ Tara’s class presentation has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  39. 39.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  40. 40.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 240 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?

Answer key

  1. 150
  2. 30
  3. 150
  4. 4
  5. 140
  6. 120–150 words a minute
  7. 300
  8. 520
  9. a little under the limit
  10. 70
  11. 6
  12. 90
  13. 490
  14. 6
  15. cut the weakest part
  16. 80
  17. 30
  18. 5
  19. 150
  20. 20
  21. 30
  22. to fit the time limit
  23. 5
  24. 70
  25. 2
  26. 440
  27. 240
  28. 490
  29. 4
  30. 40
  31. 30
  32. 70
  33. 2
  34. 120
  35. 180
  36. 520
  37. 2
  38. 120
  39. 300
  40. 120

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