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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 804 · 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.⏱️ Meera speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  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.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) far over the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  4. 4.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  5. 5.⏱️ Tara speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute assembly talk?
  6. 6.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 550 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  7. 7.⏱️ Tara speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  8. 8.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  9. 9.⏱️ Meera reads a 450-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 550 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  11. 11.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  12. 12.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 780 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  15. 15.⏱️ 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
  16. 16.⏱️ Saanvi’s competition speech has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.✂️ Diya’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Diya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 280 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ Nisha reads a 300-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  19. 19.⏱️ Meera’s welcome speech has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  20. 20.⏱️ Tara’s science fair talk has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  22. 22.✂️ Ananya’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 580 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 300-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) speak super fast (c) cut the weakest part (d) ignore the limit
  25. 25.✂️ Ananya’s welcome speech must fit in 2 minutes. Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 290 words. How many words must be cut?
  26. 26.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  27. 27.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  28. 28.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  29. 29.✂️ Meera’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.✂️ Saanvi’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 110 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 300-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  32. 32.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  33. 33.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  34. 34.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  35. 35.⏱️ Meera’s assembly talk has 300 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  37. 37.⏱️ Kabir reads a 300-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ Nisha reads a 75-word class presentation at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  40. 40.✂️ Tara’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?

Answer key

  1. 280
  2. 120–150 words a minute
  3. a little under the limit
  4. 300
  5. 390
  6. 110
  7. 300
  8. 200
  9. 180
  10. 5
  11. 100
  12. 6
  13. 250
  14. 350
  15. to fit the time limit
  16. 4
  17. 60
  18. 120
  19. 6
  20. 4
  21. 300
  22. 20
  23. 180
  24. cut the weakest part
  25. 70
  26. 360
  27. 650
  28. 180
  29. 40
  30. 10
  31. 120
  32. 110
  33. 200
  34. 120
  35. 2
  36. 750
  37. 150
  38. 30
  39. 110
  40. 60

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