Updated 2026-08-28upper

Duolingo English Test Listening Cloze Practice #9 — Upper Level

Free DET (Duolingo English Test) Listening Cloze practice #9 — Upper level. Just DET Listening questions, no grading — solve it yourself and check the answer or model response.

How to practice: This set collects only the Listening Cloze question type from the real DET (Duolingo English Test) — DET Listening questions. No grading, no timer — solve it yourself, then tap each question to reveal the answer or model response.
Listening Cloze
Listen to the talk and fill in the blanks below.

Forests currently cover approximately thirty percent of the Earth's land surface, and they perform a remarkable range of _____ functions. The primary drivers of deforestation include the expansion of agricultural land and commercial _____. When forest cover is removed, the carbon stored in trees and soil is _____ into the atmosphere. Payments for _____ services have shown promise as a policy mechanism for protecting forests.

Show Answers
1) ecological · 2) logging · 3) released · 4) ecosystem
Q1 · Comprehension
According to the lecture, what percentage of terrestrial species depend on forest habitats?
  1. A. Approximately thirty percent
  2. B. Approximately fifty percent
  3. C. Approximately eighty percent
  4. D. Approximately ninety percent
Show Answer
Correct: Approximately eighty percent
Q2 · Comprehension
What does the speaker identify as the dominant cause of deforestation in tropical regions?
  1. A. Illegal small-scale farming and urban sprawl
  2. B. Expansion of agricultural land and commercial logging
  3. C. Infrastructure development and road building
  4. D. Climate change and drought
Show Answer
Correct: Expansion of agricultural land and commercial logging
Q3 · Comprehension
What economic insight does the speaker offer about why deforestation continues?
  1. A. Governments profit directly from the timber trade
  2. B. Deforestation is profitable in the short term even when long-term costs are catastrophic
  3. C. Forest land has no commercial value until it is cleared
  4. D. International trade agreements require the removal of forest cover
Show Answer
Correct: Deforestation is profitable in the short term even when long-term costs are catastrophic
Q4 · Comprehension
Which countries does the speaker cite as examples where payments for ecosystem services have shown promise?
  1. A. Brazil and Indonesia
  2. B. Costa Rica and Rwanda
  3. C. Norway and Sweden
  4. D. India and China
Show Answer
Correct: Costa Rica and Rwanda
Q5 · Comprehension
What does the speaker say is necessary for enforcement measures against deforestation to be effective?
  1. A. International military intervention
  2. B. Large-scale reforestation programs
  3. C. Political will combined with satellite monitoring technology
  4. D. Complete elimination of international trade in timber
Show Answer
Correct: Political will combined with satellite monitoring technology
Summary
Show Model Summary
The lecture examines deforestation as a major driver of climate change and biodiversity loss, explaining that economic incentives make forest clearing profitable in the short term despite severe long-term consequences. The speaker outlines multiple cascading effects — including carbon release, soil erosion, and species extinction — and evaluates policy responses such as ecosystem service payments, satellite monitoring, and supply chain transparency, while noting that addressing underlying economic pressures remains the central challenge.

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