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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 940 · 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 reads a 120-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 500 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  3. 3.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 420 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  4. 4.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute debate speech?
  5. 5.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  6. 6.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  7. 7.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute welcome speech?
  8. 8.✂️ Tara’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Tara speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 580 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.🐢 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
  10. 10.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  11. 11.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  12. 12.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  13. 13.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) exactly at the limit (c) far over the limit
  14. 14.✂️ Saanvi’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  15. 15.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  16. 16.✂️ Arjun’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 230 words. How many words must be cut?
  17. 17.✂️ Meera’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 180 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to fit the time limit (b) to speak faster (c) to tire yourself (d) to skip the ending
  19. 19.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) ignore the limit (b) skip the ending (c) speak super fast (d) cut the weakest part
  20. 20.⏱️ Tara’s debate speech has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  21. 21.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 560 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  22. 22.⏱️ Meera speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute welcome speech?
  23. 23.✂️ Diya’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Diya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 260 words. How many words must be cut?
  24. 24.⏱️ Aarav reads a 180-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Kabir reads a 75-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Kabir’s science fair talk has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Aarav reads a 120-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ Tara reads a 150-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ Ishaan’s class presentation has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  31. 31.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  32. 32.⏱️ Aarav’s assembly talk has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  34. 34.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  35. 35.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  36. 36.⏱️ Nisha’s class presentation has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.✂️ Aarav’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Aarav speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 250 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  39. 39.⏱️ Ananya’s debate speech has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  40. 40.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 600 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?

Answer key

  1. 60
  2. 100
  3. 140
  4. 500
  5. 100
  6. 250
  7. 520
  8. 20
  9. 120–150 words a minute
  10. 150
  11. 150
  12. 750
  13. a little under the limit
  14. 50
  15. 210
  16. 80
  17. 50
  18. to fit the time limit
  19. cut the weakest part
  20. 2
  21. 140
  22. 110
  23. 60
  24. 90
  25. 30
  26. 2
  27. 60
  28. 5
  29. 90
  30. 6
  31. 400
  32. 5
  33. 100
  34. 280
  35. 200
  36. 4
  37. 30
  38. 520
  39. 6
  40. 120

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