A1–C2 · Duolingo English Test
Duolingo English Test Practice Test 26
AI-generated practice paper in the style of Duolingo English Test — original material, not a reproduction of any real exam paper, following the official task types. Listening audio is read aloud by your browser's voice. For Speaking you can record yourself and compare with a model answer, and Writing tasks include a model answer — neither is scored automatically, since that needs real speech and writing evaluation this site does not offer for this exam.
Reading
Read and Select
Look at each word. Is it a real English word?
1.gitib
2.dispute
3.kidney
4.braldor
5.fierce
6.toddler
7.gliltant
8.wimal
9.bruntish
10.abroad
11.toskit
12.elegant
13.juncture
14.unite
15.slupit
Fill in the Blanks
Type the missing letters to complete the word in each sentence.
Pressed between the pages of the dictionary, the four-leaf clover had kept its shape for more than fif years.
Keep the receipt somewhere safe, since the shop will not exchange the jacket without proof of purc.
Before the age of refrigerators, families preserved fish and meat by packing them in sa or drying them in the sun.
Never mind the small mistake in the report; the general mess is still clear and convincing.
Despite widespread scepticism, the small startup managed to convince several major banks that its software could det fraud in seconds.
Given enough sunshine and water, a single bean seed will send up a green sho within a week.
Read and Complete
Type the missing letters to complete the text below.
Long before it reaches a recycling bin, a piece of used paper has already travelled through a surprisingly long journey of colle, sort, and clea. Workers or machines first remove staples, plastic wind, and other contam before the paper is mixed with water and broken down into a soft, pul mixture. This pu is cleaned further to remove ink, then pressed and dried into fresh she that can be used again for newspapers, boxes, or notebooks. Recycling paper this way uses far less ene and wat than making brand new paper from freshly cut trees.
Interactive Reading
Read the passage and complete each step.
For centuries, the writing of ancient Egypt was a mystery. Hieroglyphs covered temple walls and tombs, but nobody alive could read them, and many scholars assumed the symbols were purely decorative. Everything changed in 1799, when French soldiers who were repairing a fort near the town of Rashid discovered a large dark stone. It carried the same decree, issued in 196 BCE, in three scripts: hieroglyphs, a cursive Egyptian script called Demotic, and ordinary Greek. Because scholars could still read Greek, the stone offered a way in. The British took the stone after defeating the French in Egypt, and it has been in the British Museum ever since. Researchers copied the inscriptions and raced to be the first to them. The English scientist Thomas Young made early progress by identifying the royal names, but it was the French scholar Jean-François Champollion who found the key in 1822. He realised that hieroglyphs used symbols for sounds as well as for whole ideas, a system far more flexible than anyone had . His discovery opened up thousands of texts, and historians could finally hear the ancient Egyptians in their own words.
16. The passage stops before its final sentence. Which sentence best completes it?
17. Highlight the answer: Which sentence explains why the stone was useful to scholars?
18. Highlight the answer: Which sentence says who finally found the key to reading hieroglyphs?
19. What is the main idea of the passage?
20. What is the best title for the passage?
Listening
Listen and Type
Listen and type the sentence you hear. You can play the audio as many times as you like.
1. Type what you hear.
2. Type what you hear.
3. Type what you hear.
4. Type what you hear.
5. Type what you hear.
6. Type what you hear.
Interactive Listening
Listen to each conversation, then answer.
Transcript (available after checking)
Henry: I ordered a jacket online, but it doesn't fit. Can I still return it?
Isla: Let me check, most items can be returned within thirty days of delivery.
Henry: That's good, it's only been about two weeks since it arrived.
Isla: Perfect, I'll email you the return label so you can send it back.
7. What is the best reply to the last speaker?
8. How many days are customers given to return an item?
Summarize the conversation in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: Henry asks about returning a jacket that does not fit, and Isla confirms it can be returned within thirty days and offers to send a label.
Transcript (available after checking)
Anna: Since we have a long drive tomorrow, should we make a playlist tonight?
Ben: Good idea. Let's include some upbeat songs to keep us awake early on.
Anna: Agreed, and maybe a few calmer ones for later in the afternoon.
Ben: I'll start adding songs now and send you the list to check.
9. What is the best reply to the last speaker?
10. Why do they want upbeat songs early in the drive?
Summarize the conversation in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: Anna and Ben plan a playlist for their road trip, mixing upbeat morning songs with calmer ones for later in the day.
Writing
Write About the Photo
Look at each picture and write one or two sentences describing it.
Describe this picture in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I can see a big elephant with a long trunk and large ears. Elephants are the biggest animals that live on land, and I once saw one at a zoo when I was a child.
Describe this picture in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I can see a bag with a handle. People use bags to carry things such as books, food, or clothes, and I never leave home without mine because it holds all my essentials.
Describe this picture in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: The picture shows a bright yellow sun with rays around it. It means the weather is warm and sunny, which is my favourite kind of day for a picnic in the park.
Interactive Writing
Answer the question.
Do you think zoos are a good way to protect animals, or should animals always live in the wild? Give reasons for your opinion.
Show sample answer
Model answer: Modern zoos can be useful, but only when they have large spaces and take part in conservation programmes. They protect species that are almost extinct and teach children to care about nature. However, I do not agree with keeping animals in small cages just for entertainment. Wild areas should be the first choice whenever it is possible.
Writing Sample
Write about the topic for up to three minutes.
Should young people be required to do a year of community service after finishing school? Give your opinion.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I think a year of community service would be a good idea if it were well organised. Young people would meet others from different backgrounds and learn to work in a team. They could help in hospitals, schools or in projects to clean up nature, and they would feel useful. It might also help them decide what career they want. However, it should not be forced on those who need to earn money immediately, so there should be some flexibility, for example a part-time option over two years.
Speaking
Speak About the Photo
Look at the picture and speak about it for 30 seconds.
Speak about the picture. Say as much as you can.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I can see a monkey in this picture. It has a long tail, and it looks playful. Monkeys often live in warm forests and climb trees to look for fruit. They remind me of small children because they are curious and always seem to be moving. I would love to see wild monkeys on a trip one day.
Read, Then Speak
Read the prompt, then speak about it.
What would you do if you won a large amount of money in a lottery? Talk about your first three decisions.
Show sample answer
Model answer: First, I would pay off my parents' loan, because I know how much it worries them. Second, I would put most of the money in a safe savings account and not tell many people, to avoid problems with friends or relatives asking for money. Third, I would take a long trip around the world with my sister. After that, I would probably continue working, because I would be bored without a purpose and my job is something I really enjoy.
Interactive Speaking
Answer each question in turn.
Have you ever moved to a new home?
Show sample answer
Model answer: Yes, I moved to my current flat about two years ago.
What was the most difficult part of the move?
Show sample answer
Model answer: Packing and carrying all the boxes up three flights of stairs without a lift was definitely the hardest part.
Do you prefer moving everything yourself or hiring professionals? Why?
Show sample answer
Model answer: I prefer hiring professionals for heavy furniture, but I like packing smaller items myself so I know where everything is.
Tell me about something unexpected that happened during a move.
Show sample answer
Model answer: We discovered a hidden storage room behind a wall in an old flat, which turned out to be full of the previous owner's furniture.
Why do you think moving is often considered one of the most stressful life events?
Show sample answer
Model answer: It usually combines physical exhaustion, financial pressure and the emotional adjustment of leaving a familiar place, all happening within a very short period of time.
Do you think people move homes more often now than in previous generations? What might explain that?
Show sample answer
Model answer: I think people move more often now, mainly because jobs change more frequently and renting has become more common than staying in one family home for a lifetime.
Speaking Sample
Speak about the topic for up to three minutes.
What effect do you think noise pollution has on people living in busy cities? Talk about your own experience with noise where you live.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I think noise pollution has a much bigger effect on people than we usually admit. My flat is close to a main road, and for the first few months after moving in, I struggled to sleep because of constant traffic and occasional sirens through the night. Over time I adapted somewhat, but I still notice how much calmer I feel whenever I stay somewhere quiet, such as my parents' house in a smaller town. Studies suggest that constant background noise raises stress levels and can even affect concentration and sleep quality without people fully realising it. Eventually I bought thicker curtains and a white-noise machine, which helped considerably. I think cities should take noise more seriously when planning new roads or buildings, rather than treating it as a minor issue.
Keep your streak going
Up next: Duolingo English Test Practice Test 27