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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 979 · 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.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 300–400 words a minute (b) 120–150 words a minute (c) 20–30 words a minute
  2. 2.⏱️ Tara reads a 50-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute assembly talk?
  4. 4.⏱️ Vihaan’s assembly talk has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ Diya speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  6. 6.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  7. 7.⏱️ Meera speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  8. 8.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  9. 9.⏱️ Vihaan’s assembly talk has 520 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Ishaan’s competition speech has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  11. 11.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  12. 12.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  13. 13.✂️ Diya’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Diya speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 620 words. How many words must be cut?
  14. 14.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) far over the limit
  15. 15.⏱️ Kabir’s welcome speech has 400 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  17. 17.✂️ Nisha’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ 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
  19. 19.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  20. 20.⏱️ Diya’s science fair talk has 600 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  22. 22.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 650 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  23. 23.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) cut the weakest part (c) ignore the limit (d) speak super fast
  24. 24.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 390 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  25. 25.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 600 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  26. 26.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  27. 27.⏱️ Aarav reads a 150-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  29. 29.⏱️ Tara’s assembly talk has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ Arjun’s class presentation has 840 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  31. 31.✂️ Vihaan’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  32. 32.⏱️ Diya reads a 150-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute welcome speech?
  34. 34.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.⏱️ Rohan’s debate speech has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  37. 37.⏱️ Aarav’s assembly talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  39. 39.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  40. 40.⏱️ Kabir reads a 50-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 120–150 words a minute
  2. 30
  3. 440
  4. 5
  5. 750
  6. 420
  7. 390
  8. 490
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 220
  12. 100
  13. 20
  14. a little under the limit
  15. 4
  16. 140
  17. 20
  18. to fit the time limit
  19. 150
  20. 6
  21. 180
  22. 130
  23. cut the weakest part
  24. 130
  25. 120
  26. 420
  27. 90
  28. 420
  29. 3
  30. 6
  31. 70
  32. 90
  33. 400
  34. 3
  35. 3
  36. 140
  37. 4
  38. 150
  39. 350
  40. 30

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