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.
Jordan — Jordan is curious about your views on climate change and your own environmental habits.
Turn 1
“Hi! I'd love to start with a big-picture question. How seriously do you take climate change as a personal concern?”
Useful Expressions
Honestly, · I find it difficult to... · I'm aware that... · I believe that...
Show Model Response
Honestly, climate change is one of the issues I think about most. I find it difficult to separate from everyday decisions — whether it's thinking about what I eat, how I travel, or what I buy. I'm aware that individual choices have limited impact compared to systemic change, but I also believe that widespread shifts in public attitude are what eventually drive policy change. So I take it seriously both as a personal concern and as a political one.
Turn 2
“That's really thoughtful. What specific changes have you made in your daily life to reduce your environmental impact?”
Useful Expressions
The most significant change... · I've also... · I try to... · I won't pretend...
Show Model Response
The most significant change I've made is dramatically reducing the amount of meat I eat, particularly beef, since livestock farming is one of the largest sources of methane emissions. I've also stopped buying fast fashion — instead, I try to buy second-hand or invest in durable items that last longer. I take public transport almost exclusively and haven't flown in two years. I won't pretend these changes are costless or easy, but they feel important given the scale of the problem.
Turn 3
“Do you ever feel that your personal efforts are futile given that large corporations emit so much more than individuals?”
Useful Expressions
Yes, I feel that tension... · There's a real risk that... · At the same time... · I can't credibly...
Show Model Response
Yes, I feel that tension frequently. There's a real risk that focusing on personal responsibility allows corporations and governments to avoid accountability for the structural changes that are genuinely necessary. At the same time, I don't think those two things are mutually exclusive. My choices influence demand, they signal to companies that sustainable alternatives are commercially viable, and they make it easier for me to advocate consistently for stronger policy — because I can't credibly demand corporate change while living entirely contrary to those values myself.
Turn 4
“What policy change do you think would have the biggest positive impact on the environment?”
Useful Expressions
If I had to choose... · When the true cost is reflected... · The revenue generated... · The challenge is...
Show Model Response
If I had to choose one, I'd say a robust and universally applied carbon pricing mechanism. When the true environmental cost of burning fossil fuels is reflected in prices, both businesses and consumers have a financial incentive to shift to cleaner alternatives without requiring a complex web of sector-by-sector regulations. The revenue generated could also be redistributed to lower-income households to offset higher energy costs, addressing concerns about economic fairness. The challenge, of course, is building the political will to implement it at a meaningful price level.
Turn 5
“Do you feel hopeful or pessimistic about the future of the planet?”
Useful Expressions
My honest answer is... · Pure optimism can... · What gives me genuine hope is... · What worries me is...
Show Model Response
My honest answer is somewhere between the two, which I think is actually the most useful place to be. Pure optimism can breed complacency — the assumption that technology or markets will solve the problem without urgent action. Pure pessimism can lead to paralysis. What gives me genuine hope is the pace at which renewable energy costs have fallen and the growing awareness among younger generations that environmental issues are non-negotiable. What worries me is that the pace of political and corporate change still lags far behind what the science says is necessary.
Turn 6
“Finally, what would you say to someone who argues that environmental protection is a luxury that poor countries cannot afford?”
Useful Expressions
I'd challenge the premise... · The countries that have contributed least... · Framing this as a luxury... · That said,...
Show Model Response
I'd challenge the premise of that argument directly. The countries and communities that have contributed least to global emissions are disproportionately the ones facing the most severe consequences — more intense flooding, droughts, and food insecurity. Framing environmental protection as a luxury implicitly treats the current distribution of harm as acceptable. That said, I think the responsibility for financing the clean transition should fall primarily on wealthier nations and corporations that benefited most from carbon-intensive development. Demanding that low-income countries forgo development without providing financial and technological support is neither fair nor politically viable.
More interactive speaking sets at other levels · Browse the full DET question bank