How to practice: This set collects only the Interactive Speaking question type from the real DET (Duolingo English Test) — DET Speaking questions. No grading, no timer — solve it yourself, then tap each question to reveal the answer or model response.
Jamie — Jamie is a journalist writing an article about whether people prefer city life or rural life. You are being interviewed about your preferences and experiences.
Turn 1
“Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. To start, can you tell me — do you currently live in a city or in a more rural area, and how long have you lived there?”
Useful Expressions
moved here for work · fast-paced environment · appreciate urban life · miss the quieter lifestyle
Show Model Response
I currently live in a city, and I have been here for about five years now. I moved here from a smaller town for work opportunities. At the time, I was a bit nervous about adapting to such a fast-paced environment, but I have grown to appreciate many aspects of urban life — the convenience, the diversity, and the range of things to do. That said, I do sometimes miss the quieter, more relaxed lifestyle of a smaller place.
Turn 2
“Interesting. What would you say are the main advantages of city life that keep you there, despite those moments of missing the countryside?”
Useful Expressions
convenience and opportunity · public transportation · professional development · cultural diversity
Show Model Response
The main advantages are convenience and opportunity. In the city, almost everything is accessible — public transportation, hospitals, universities, cultural events, and a huge variety of restaurants and shops. For my career, the city offers far more professional development opportunities and a much larger network of people to collaborate with. I also appreciate the diversity — living and working alongside people from different cultural backgrounds has genuinely broadened my perspective in ways I didn't expect.
Turn 3
“Those are compelling advantages. But what about the downsides? What aspects of city living do you find most difficult to deal with?”
Useful Expressions
cost of living · high rent · noise and traffic · find genuine quiet
Show Model Response
The biggest downsides for me are the cost of living and the noise. Rent in the city is significantly higher than what I paid back home, and it can be stressful knowing such a large portion of my income goes toward housing. The noise is also a constant challenge — traffic, construction, and crowded streets make it difficult to find genuine quiet, especially during rush hours. And while the city has parks, they are often crowded, which makes it harder to truly switch off and relax in nature.
Turn 4
“If you compare city life to rural life, what do you think rural areas offer that cities simply cannot replicate?”
Useful Expressions
sense of space and silence · connection to nature · stronger community · sense of belonging
Show Model Response
Rural areas offer something that cities truly struggle to provide — a sense of space, silence, and connection to the natural world. When I visit the countryside, I notice immediately how much slower and calmer everything feels. There's less pressure, cleaner air, and a stronger sense of community among neighbors. People in rural areas often know their neighbors personally, whereas in cities it's quite common to not know the people living next door at all. That sense of belonging and rootedness is something I think many city residents quietly miss.
Turn 5
“Do you think the gap between city life and rural life is narrowing, or are they becoming more different from each other?”
Useful Expressions
remote work · no longer tied to the city · infrastructure gap · significant inequalities remain
Show Model Response
I think in some ways the gap is narrowing, especially with remote work becoming much more common. People no longer have to live in a city to access high-quality jobs — many professionals can now work from anywhere with a good internet connection. This has led some people to leave cities in favor of rural or semi-rural areas. At the same time, rural areas in many countries still lack access to the infrastructure and services that cities take for granted — things like high-speed internet, quality healthcare, and diverse educational options. So the gap is narrowing in some ways, but significant inequalities remain.
Turn 6
“Finally, if you could design the ideal living environment — drawing from both city and rural life — what would it look like?”
Useful Expressions
mid-sized city · excellent public transportation · green spaces · affordable housing
Show Model Response
My ideal living environment would be something like a mid-sized city that has strong infrastructure but hasn't lost its sense of community. I'd want excellent public transportation so I don't need a car, along with easy access to parks and green spaces. I'd want a diverse range of cultural and social opportunities — theaters, markets, cafes, events — but without the extreme density and noise of a megacity. And I'd want affordable housing so that a broad range of people can actually live there, not just high earners. Essentially, I'd want the best of both worlds — the connectivity and opportunity of a city combined with the livability and calm of a smaller town.
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