Originally Posted by
Adlerdriver
I don’t care about the number of words, but don’t they need to know your speed in order to figure out what they need and tell you that? Seems smarter to just answer the question rather than come back with another question. But, what do I know? ....... I monitor guard.
Yeah, this. The controller isn't asking you your speed because he's already decided what speed he wants you to maintain and he's reluctant to just come straight out and ask you to maintain it. Controllers are actually pretty good at not asking pointless questions merely as a conversational gambit. He's asking for your speed because it's information he needs, and by not giving him that information he just asked for, you're wasting his time and demonstrating that you don't quite grasp the concept.