A1–C2 · Duolingo English Test

Duolingo English Test Practice Test 39

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.tibid
2.jeopardy
3.chapter
4.prane
5.vinegar
6.quench
7.breesib
8.zimper
9.detect
10.dagous
11.stadium
12.glekive
13.rustic
14.jasmine
15.meevate

Fill in the Blanks

Type the missing letters to complete the word in each sentence.

Weighing the evidence carefully, the jury concluded that the defendant had been nowhere near the scene when the robb occurred. Owning a dog has taught our children how to be patient, responsible, and gentle with living creat. Should a doctor always tell a patient the whole truth, even when the news is likely to cause dist? Engineers tested the prototype in a wind tunnel for weeks, adjusting its wings until the aerop flew steadily. Rehearsals for the school play began in September, and by December even the shyest students could rec their lines confidently. Whichever route you choose, allow extra time for the mountain pass, which is often closed after heavy snow.

Read and Complete

Type the missing letters to complete the text below.

Across the world, ordinary volunteers are helping scientists collect data on everything from bird migrations to distant galaxies. Arm with nothing more than a smartphone or a simple app, these citizen scientists photo plants, count insects, or clas blu images of galaxies faster than any small research team could man alone. Some projects rely on thousands of volunteers working for just a few minutes each, quie add up to millions of useful observ over a single year. Professional researchers say that without this enormous volun effort, many long-term studies of nature would simply be impos to carry out.

Interactive Reading

Read the passage and complete each step.

In 1932, struggling farmers in Western Australia faced an unusual enemy: tens of thousands of large, flightless birds called emus trampling fences and crops as they migrated inland in search of water. Desperate for help, the farmers, many of them veterans of the First World War, the government for military assistance, and soldiers were dispatched with machine guns to cull the birds. What followed became known, only half-jokingly, as the Great Emu War. Newspapers around the world the story irresistibly funny. The soldiers quickly discovered that emus were far harder targets than expected, able to scatter unpredictably and absorb bullets with surprising resilience. One officer later reported that the birds seemed to organise themselves into small units with a lookout, though this claim is likely exaggeration born of frustration. After roughly a month, and thousands of rounds fired for what the military itself admitted were disappointing results, the operation was quietly and the soldiers withdrawn. The farmers' fencing problem, meanwhile, remained essentially unsolved by military means. Officials eventually turned to a less dramatic but far more effective solution: a bounty system that paid farmers directly for culling emus themselves, alongside better fencing to keep the birds out. The episode is now remembered less as a military failure than as a lasting joke, one that Australians with visible relish to this day.

16. The passage stops before its final sentence. Which sentence best completes it?

17. Highlight the answer: Which sentence explains why the soldiers struggled against the emus?

18. Highlight the answer: Which sentence describes the solution officials eventually adopted?

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.

7. What is the best reply to the last speaker?

8. What grew well in the garden last summer?

Summarize the conversation in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: Anna and Ben plan their spring garden, deciding to grow tomatoes again along with some fresh basil near the kitchen window.

9. What is the best reply to the last speaker?

10. What will David pick up from the bakery?

Summarize the conversation in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: Carla and David plan their dinner party menu, deciding on pasta and salad, with David bringing bread and dessert from the bakery.

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: The picture shows a single white egg. You can boil it, fry it, or use it in cooking, and I usually have scrambled eggs on Sunday mornings when I have more time.
Describe this picture in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: This is an orange, a round fruit with a bright colour. It is full of vitamin C, and in winter I like to drink fresh orange juice to stay healthy.
Describe this picture in one or two sentences.
Show sample answer
Model answer: This is a round red apple with a small stem on top. It is a healthy snack, and my grandmother always says that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Interactive Writing

Answer the question.

A classmate keeps arriving late for group meetings and the rest of the team is getting annoyed. What would you say to him, and how would you help the group solve this problem?
Show sample answer
Model answer: I would speak to him privately and ask if there is a reason he is late, because he might have a difficult schedule. Then I would explain that the team is waiting for him and that it wastes everyone's time. We could agree on a new meeting time that suits everybody, so the problem would be solved without blame.

Writing Sample

Write about the topic for up to three minutes.

Some people think that the school day should start later in the morning. Do you agree?
Show sample answer
Model answer: I agree that school should start later, at least for teenagers. Research suggests that young people need more sleep because their body clocks change, and they often feel exhausted at eight in the morning. When I was at school, I could hardly keep my eyes open in the first lesson. If lessons started at nine or ten, students would probably concentrate better and get higher marks. The disadvantage is that parents who work early might have problems, but schools could offer a supervised breakfast club to solve this.

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.
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: This picture shows a mobile phone. It has a screen, and I imagine someone is using it to make a call or send a message. Phones are very useful because we can take photos, find information and stay in touch with people. However, I think we should not use them all the time, especially when we are with friends.

Read, Then Speak

Read the prompt, then speak about it.

Talk about a piece of technology that you could not live without. Why is it so important in your daily life?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I could not live without my laptop. I use it for work, for my online classes and for keeping in touch with my family abroad. It also contains all my photos and documents, so losing it would be a disaster. I know that some people think a phone can do the same, but I need a proper keyboard and a bigger screen. If it broke, I would probably need to buy a new one immediately.

Interactive Speaking

Answer each question in turn.

Do you enjoy taking photos?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: Yes, I take photos quite often, mostly with my phone rather than a proper camera.
What do you usually take pictures of?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I mostly take pictures of landscapes and food, especially when I am travelling.
Do you prefer looking back at old photos or taking new ones?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I enjoy both, but looking back at old photos usually brings stronger emotions and memories.
Tell me about a photo you took that you are especially proud of.
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I once caught a perfect sunset over the mountains during a hike, and the colours in the photo still amaze me.
Why do you think people take so many more photos now than in the past?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: Because phones make it instant and free, people photograph small everyday moments that in the past would not have seemed worth the cost of film.
Do you think taking constant photos stops people from truly enjoying the moment? Discuss.
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I think it can, because when you are focused on getting the perfect shot, you sometimes forget to simply watch and experience what is happening in front of you.

Speaking Sample

Speak about the topic for up to three minutes.

Explain why curiosity is important, in your opinion. Talk about something you became curious about recently and what you discovered.
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I think curiosity is one of the most valuable qualities a person can have, because it keeps you learning long after school has finished. Recently, I became curious about how bread has been made differently across various cultures throughout history, after trying an unusual flatbread at a friend's house. I ended up watching several videos and even reading a short book on the topic, discovering connections between climate, available grains and each culture's traditional recipes. None of this was directly useful for my job, but it made ordinary meals feel more interesting afterwards. I believe curiosity like this keeps the mind active and open, and it often leads to unexpected conversations and friendships with people who share the same small obsessions.
Keep your streak going

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