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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 76 · 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.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 50-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  3. 3.✂️ Meera’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 530 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  5. 5.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  6. 6.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) cut the weakest part (b) speak super fast (c) ignore the limit (d) skip the ending
  7. 7.⏱️ Diya’s debate speech has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  8. 8.✂️ Ananya’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 390 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.⏱️ Tara speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  10. 10.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) far over the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  11. 11.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  12. 12.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  13. 13.✂️ Nisha’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  14. 14.⏱️ Meera’s science fair talk has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  15. 15.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 300–400 words a minute
  16. 16.✂️ Aarav’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  17. 17.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 50-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  18. 18.✂️ Arjun’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Arjun speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 400 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.✂️ Aarav’s welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 150 words. How many words must be cut?
  20. 20.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  21. 21.✂️ Meera’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  22. 22.⏱️ Ananya reads a 120-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ Kabir reads a 250-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Tara reads a 240-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.✂️ Rohan’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Rohan speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 190 words. How many words must be cut?
  26. 26.⏱️ Rohan reads a 300-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to skip the ending (b) to tire yourself (c) to fit the time limit (d) to speak faster
  28. 28.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 300 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  29. 29.⏱️ Kabir reads a 50-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  31. 31.⏱️ Nisha reads a 240-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  33. 33.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 600 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  34. 34.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  35. 35.⏱️ Arjun reads a 300-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  37. 37.⏱️ Meera reads a 375-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  38. 38.✂️ Ananya’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 420 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  40. 40.✂️ Rohan’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?

Answer key

  1. 30
  2. 600
  3. 10
  4. 350
  5. 250
  6. cut the weakest part
  7. 2
  8. 30
  9. 650
  10. a little under the limit
  11. 300
  12. 360
  13. 20
  14. 2
  15. 120–150 words a minute
  16. 80
  17. 30
  18. 10
  19. 30
  20. 140
  21. 50
  22. 60
  23. 150
  24. 120
  25. 50
  26. 150
  27. to fit the time limit
  28. 100
  29. 30
  30. 110
  31. 120
  32. 350
  33. 120
  34. 210
  35. 120
  36. 350
  37. 150
  38. 30
  39. 180
  40. 10

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