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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 900 · 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.✂️ Vihaan’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  2. 2.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 300–400 words a minute (c) 20–30 words a minute
  3. 3.⏱️ Ananya’s debate speech has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  5. 5.⏱️ Arjun reads a 360-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  6. 6.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 260 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  7. 7.⏱️ Aarav’s class presentation has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  8. 8.⏱️ Saanvi’s class presentation has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  9. 9.✂️ Arjun’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.⏱️ Rohan’s debate speech has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  11. 11.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) speak super fast (b) cut the weakest part (c) ignore the limit (d) skip the ending
  12. 12.✂️ Meera’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  13. 13.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  15. 15.⏱️ Arjun’s assembly talk has 780 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  17. 17.⏱️ Ishaan’s assembly talk has 200 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  18. 18.⏱️ Tara’s science fair talk has 780 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.⏱️ Diya’s debate speech has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  20. 20.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to skip the ending (b) to speak faster (c) to tire yourself (d) to fit the time limit
  21. 21.✂️ Aarav’s welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Aarav speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  22. 22.✂️ Vihaan’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 520 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.⏸️ 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
  24. 24.⏱️ Ishaan’s competition speech has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Tara reads a 180-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Tara reads a 150-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  28. 28.⏱️ Ananya reads a 250-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  29. 29.✂️ Ananya’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.⏱️ Aarav reads a 60-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  31. 31.✂️ Diya’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Diya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 490 words. How many words must be cut?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  33. 33.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  34. 34.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  35. 35.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  36. 36.⏱️ Meera’s competition speech has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Meera reads a 150-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ Ishaan’s science fair talk has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  39. 39.✂️ Tara’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 510 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?

Answer key

  1. 10
  2. 120–150 words a minute
  3. 5
  4. 500
  5. 180
  6. 130
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 10
  10. 6
  11. cut the weakest part
  12. 40
  13. 150
  14. 420
  15. 6
  16. 110
  17. 2
  18. 6
  19. 2
  20. to fit the time limit
  21. 40
  22. 70
  23. a little under the limit
  24. 5
  25. 90
  26. 60
  27. 250
  28. 150
  29. 20
  30. 30
  31. 50
  32. 350
  33. 140
  34. 110
  35. 300
  36. 2
  37. 90
  38. 6
  39. 60
  40. 420

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