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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 626 · 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.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) exactly at the limit (c) far over the limit
  2. 2.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 240 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  3. 3.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 150-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 300–400 words a minute (b) 120–150 words a minute (c) 20–30 words a minute
  5. 5.⏱️ Meera reads a 450-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  6. 6.⏱️ Arjun’s competition speech has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.⏱️ Nisha’s science fair talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  8. 8.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to skip the ending (c) to tire yourself (d) to fit the time limit
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  10. 10.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  11. 11.⏱️ Aarav reads a 75-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  12. 12.⏱️ Ishaan’s welcome speech has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  13. 13.✂️ Ishaan’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 330 words. How many words must be cut?
  14. 14.✂️ Kabir’s welcome speech must fit in 2 minutes. Kabir speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  15. 15.✂️ Arjun’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  16. 16.⏱️ Nisha’s assembly talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 240 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  18. 18.⏱️ Tara’s debate speech has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  20. 20.✂️ Kabir’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Kabir speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 330 words. How many words must be cut?
  21. 21.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  22. 22.⏱️ Ishaan’s class presentation has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  23. 23.✂️ Saanvi’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 230 words. How many words must be cut?
  24. 24.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute assembly talk?
  25. 25.✂️ Arjun’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 610 words. How many words must be cut?
  26. 26.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  27. 27.✂️ Ishaan’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.⏱️ Aarav reads a 300-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  29. 29.✂️ Ananya’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 190 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  31. 31.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
  32. 32.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  33. 33.✂️ Tara’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Tara speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 290 words. How many words must be cut?
  34. 34.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  35. 35.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 330 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  36. 36.✂️ Rohan’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  37. 37.✂️ Tara’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 410 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.⏱️ Kabir reads a 50-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  40. 40.⏱️ Ananya reads a 450-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. a little under the limit
  2. 120
  3. 60
  4. 120–150 words a minute
  5. 180
  6. 4
  7. 4
  8. to fit the time limit
  9. 150
  10. 420
  11. 30
  12. 2
  13. 30
  14. 70
  15. 60
  16. 4
  17. 120
  18. 2
  19. 110
  20. 30
  21. 130
  22. 4
  23. 30
  24. 330
  25. 10
  26. 120
  27. 60
  28. 180
  29. 50
  30. 210
  31. 220
  32. 110
  33. 30
  34. 180
  35. 110
  36. 40
  37. 50
  38. 30
  39. 300
  40. 180

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