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How many words a minute could Burt Ward (Robin of TV's 'Batman') read?

Question #148050. Asked by serpa.
Last updated Oct 08 2020.
Originally posted Oct 06 2020 7:41 PM.

Related Trivia Topics: Television  
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Olderbison star
Answer has 12 votes
Currently Best Answer
Olderbison star
11 year member
30 replies avatar

Answer has 12 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
According to a website of which I cannot verify veracity, Burt Ward himself was quoted as saying, "He (his speed reading teacher) had me test in front of the American Medical Society in Beverly Hills, and I was tested at 30,000 words a minute with 90% comprehension."

link https://www.handitv.com/lists/18-things-you-didnt-know-about-burt-ward-as-told-by-burt-ward-himself




Oct 07 2020, 8:03 PM
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Baloo55th star
Answer has 3 votes
Baloo55th star
22 year member
4545 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.
I have always been a fast reader, and on several occasions at school was reprimanded for not reading the chapter we were set when I was seen by the teacher to be gazing around the room. When I said I'd read it, I was told to read it again, and usually replied that I'd already done that three times. On being asked questions about it, I was always correct. (This annoyed the teachers greatly for some reason, but was popular with the rest of the class as I got asked all the questions...) While I have never studied speedreading, or been actually tested under scientific conditions, I have grave doubts about the speeds claimed by some, and share the doubts referred to in link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_reading about the possibilities of these claims being sound. 80 to 90 thousand words is the length of a 200 page paperback book, according to several sites easily found online, and even if tested using A4 sheets rather than page turning in a book, I would doubt anyone reading the whole of that in three minutes (equivalent to 30,000 wpm). It might be faster on a Kindle or suchlike, but as I've never handled one I can't say. A comprehension level of 90% is unlikely at that sort of speed too, in my view, depending of course on how one defines comprehension and how one measures it. The World Championship Speed Reading Competition looks for over 50% comprehension, and their typical winner clocks one to two thousand words per minute. A lot less than 30,000, and a lot less comprehension.

Oct 08 2020, 6:51 AM
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