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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 848 · 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) exactly at the limit (b) far over the limit (c) a little under the limit
  2. 2.⏱️ Arjun’s debate speech has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Aarav’s welcome speech has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.🐢 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
  5. 5.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  6. 6.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to tire yourself (c) to skip the ending (d) to fit the time limit
  7. 7.⏱️ Saanvi’s competition speech has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  8. 8.✂️ Meera’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Meera speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 300 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute science fair talk?
  10. 10.⏱️ Tara reads a 50-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  11. 11.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  12. 12.⏱️ Kabir reads a 100-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 150-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  15. 15.✂️ Saanvi’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  17. 17.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  18. 18.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  19. 19.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  20. 20.⏱️ Ananya reads a 200-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  22. 22.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  23. 23.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  24. 24.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) ignore the limit (c) speak super fast (d) cut the weakest part
  25. 25.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  26. 26.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  27. 27.⏱️ Ishaan’s science fair talk has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ Vihaan’s welcome speech has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  30. 30.✂️ Nisha’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  33. 33.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  34. 34.✂️ Aarav’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  36. 36.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 550 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  37. 37.⏱️ Meera reads a 300-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
  39. 39.✂️ Arjun’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.⏱️ Meera speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?

Answer key

  1. a little under the limit
  2. 5
  3. 5
  4. 120–150 words a minute
  5. 150
  6. to fit the time limit
  7. 3
  8. 20
  9. 360
  10. 30
  11. 110
  12. 60
  13. 90
  14. 350
  15. 50
  16. 150
  17. 120
  18. 300
  19. 220
  20. 120
  21. 350
  22. 250
  23. 110
  24. cut the weakest part
  25. 210
  26. 350
  27. 5
  28. 4
  29. 350
  30. 70
  31. 150
  32. 180
  33. 250
  34. 10
  35. 420
  36. 110
  37. 180
  38. 110
  39. 10
  40. 480

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