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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 787 · 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.✂️ Arjun’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  2. 2.⏱️ Aarav’s class presentation has 330 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ 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
  4. 4.⏱️ Kabir reads a 150-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  6. 6.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.⏱️ Diya speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  8. 8.✂️ Arjun’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Arjun speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.✂️ Tara’s welcome speech must fit in 2 minutes. Tara speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.🐢 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
  11. 11.⏱️ Saanvi’s competition speech has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  12. 12.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 60-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ Meera reads a 225-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  14. 14.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  15. 15.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  17. 17.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  18. 18.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  19. 19.⏱️ Arjun reads a 75-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  21. 21.⏱️ Rohan’s science fair talk has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  22. 22.⏱️ Tara’s welcome speech has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  24. 24.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 280 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  25. 25.⏱️ Arjun reads a 375-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Tara reads a 450-word class presentation at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  28. 28.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  29. 29.⏸️ 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
  30. 30.⏱️ Diya’s class presentation has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  31. 31.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 330 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  32. 32.✂️ Nisha’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  33. 33.✂️ Nisha’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  34. 34.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  35. 35.✂️ Tara’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 530 words. How many words must be cut?
  36. 36.⏱️ Saanvi’s assembly talk has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  38. 38.⏱️ Arjun’s class presentation has 390 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  39. 39.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  40. 40.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 100-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 70
  2. 3
  3. to fit the time limit
  4. 90
  5. 420
  6. 3
  7. 140
  8. 70
  9. 30
  10. 120–150 words a minute
  11. 4
  12. 30
  13. 90
  14. 300
  15. 420
  16. 250
  17. 210
  18. 250
  19. 30
  20. 100
  21. 6
  22. 5
  23. 250
  24. 140
  25. 150
  26. 180
  27. 240
  28. 150
  29. a little under the limit
  30. 2
  31. 110
  32. 30
  33. 50
  34. 490
  35. 10
  36. 6
  37. 200
  38. 3
  39. 110
  40. 60

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