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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 851 · 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 welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 130 words. How many words must be cut?
  2. 2.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 20–30 words a minute (b) 300–400 words a minute (c) 120–150 words a minute
  3. 3.⏱️ Aarav’s class presentation has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Nisha’s class presentation has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) ignore the limit (b) cut the weakest part (c) skip the ending (d) speak super fast
  6. 6.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  7. 7.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute welcome speech?
  8. 8.⏱️ Diya reads a 360-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  9. 9.⏱️ Vihaan’s class presentation has 780 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute debate speech?
  11. 11.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to skip the ending (b) to fit the time limit (c) to speak faster (d) to tire yourself
  12. 12.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  13. 13.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  15. 15.✂️ Diya’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Diya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 200 words. How many words must be cut?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  17. 17.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  18. 18.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  19. 19.✂️ Meera’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  21. 21.⏱️ Arjun reads a 225-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  22. 22.✂️ Kabir’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 350 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  24. 24.✂️ Tara’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Tara speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 260 words. How many words must be cut?
  25. 25.⏱️ Meera’s assembly talk has 600 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  27. 27.✂️ Saanvi’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 390 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  29. 29.✂️ Meera’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.✂️ Diya’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Diya speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  31. 31.⏱️ Aarav reads a 450-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 60-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  34. 34.✂️ Nisha’s science fair talk must fit in 4 minutes. Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  36. 36.✂️ Meera’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 440 words. How many words must be cut?
  37. 37.⏱️ Ananya’s welcome speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.⏸️ 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
  39. 39.⏱️ Diya reads a 100-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?

Answer key

  1. 30
  2. 120–150 words a minute
  3. 4
  4. 3
  5. cut the weakest part
  6. 220
  7. 140
  8. 180
  9. 6
  10. 650
  11. to fit the time limit
  12. 180
  13. 120
  14. 350
  15. 60
  16. 350
  17. 150
  18. 110
  19. 60
  20. 150
  21. 90
  22. 70
  23. 110
  24. 40
  25. 4
  26. 220
  27. 60
  28. 150
  29. 70
  30. 10
  31. 180
  32. 30
  33. 180
  34. 30
  35. 300
  36. 40
  37. 6
  38. a little under the limit
  39. 60
  40. 350

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