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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 66 · 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.⏱️ Tara’s class presentation has 840 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  2. 2.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 300–400 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 120–150 words a minute
  3. 3.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  4. 4.⏸️ 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
  5. 5.⏱️ Ananya’s debate speech has 840 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  6. 6.✂️ Ananya’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  7. 7.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  8. 8.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  10. 10.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  11. 11.⏱️ Diya reads a 100-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  12. 12.⏱️ Meera reads a 120-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ Arjun’s welcome speech has 330 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  14. 14.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 600 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  15. 15.⏱️ Diya’s assembly talk has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.⏱️ Tara’s class presentation has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.✂️ Diya’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Diya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 130 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.✂️ Aarav’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 320 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 500 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  20. 20.✂️ 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
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  22. 22.✂️ Rohan’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 260 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.✂️ Saanvi’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 440 words. How many words must be cut?
  24. 24.⏱️ Kabir’s class presentation has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Diya reads a 450-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Diya speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  27. 27.⏱️ Nisha reads a 300-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.✂️ Aarav’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 360 words. How many words must be cut?
  29. 29.⏱️ Meera reads a 300-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ Meera speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute welcome speech?
  31. 31.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 300 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  33. 33.⏱️ Aarav’s welcome speech has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  34. 34.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to skip the ending (c) to fit the time limit (d) to speak faster
  35. 35.⏱️ Kabir reads a 150-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Nisha reads a 375-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  38. 38.✂️ Nisha’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 340 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.✂️ Diya’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Diya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute class presentation?

Answer key

  1. 6
  2. 120–150 words a minute
  3. 300
  4. a little under the limit
  5. 6
  6. 10
  7. 120
  8. 100
  9. 490
  10. 100
  11. 60
  12. 60
  13. 3
  14. 120
  15. 2
  16. 3
  17. 20
  18. 80
  19. 100
  20. cut the weakest part
  21. 300
  22. 40
  23. 40
  24. 4
  25. 180
  26. 650
  27. 150
  28. 30
  29. 120
  30. 520
  31. 100
  32. 210
  33. 5
  34. to fit the time limit
  35. 60
  36. 150
  37. 140
  38. 10
  39. 40
  40. 550

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