Updated 2026-08-28upper

Duolingo English Test Listening Cloze Practice #10 — Upper Level

Free DET (Duolingo English Test) Listening Cloze practice #10 — 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.

Traditional economic theory assumed that people are _____ agents who carefully weigh costs and benefits. Behavioral economics shows that human decision-making is systematically affected by cognitive _____. Loss aversion refers to the finding that people feel the pain of a loss approximately _____ as intensely as they feel the pleasure of an equivalent gain. A nudge is a design choice that alters behavior without restricting _____ of choice.

Show Answers
1) rational · 2) biases · 3) twice · 4) freedom
Q1 · Comprehension
What is the central claim of behavioral economics as described in the lecture?
  1. A. That economic decisions are always made rationally when people have sufficient information
  2. B. That human decision-making is systematically biased in predictable ways, contrary to traditional economic assumptions
  3. C. That psychology has no relevance to understanding economic behavior
  4. D. That cognitive biases only affect consumers in low-income brackets
Show Answer
Correct: That human decision-making is systematically biased in predictable ways, contrary to traditional economic assumptions
Q2 · Comprehension
According to the lecture, what does loss aversion mean?
  1. A. People prefer to avoid making any financial decisions involving risk
  2. B. People feel the pain of a loss about twice as intensely as the pleasure of an equivalent gain
  3. C. People consistently overestimate the probability of financial loss
  4. D. People refuse to invest in assets that have previously declined in value
Show Answer
Correct: People feel the pain of a loss about twice as intensely as the pleasure of an equivalent gain
Q3 · Comprehension
What example does the speaker give to illustrate the anchoring effect in a retail context?
  1. A. A customer buying a product because it is the most expensive item on the shelf
  2. B. A product originally priced at two hundred dollars that feels like a bargain when marked down to one hundred and twenty
  3. C. A store that offers unlimited returns to reduce buyer's remorse
  4. D. A consumer who compares prices across multiple retailers before making a purchase
Show Answer
Correct: A product originally priced at two hundred dollars that feels like a bargain when marked down to one hundred and twenty
Q4 · Comprehension
What is the organ donation example used to illustrate in the lecture?
  1. A. The concept of loss aversion
  2. B. The way anchoring affects medical decision-making
  3. C. How nudge theory can change behavior without restricting freedom of choice
  4. D. Why traditional economic models fail to account for altruistic behavior
Show Answer
Correct: How nudge theory can change behavior without restricting freedom of choice
Q5 · Comprehension
What ethical concern does the speaker raise about applying behavioral economics insights in business?
  1. A. That it may lead to excessively rational decision-making among consumers
  2. B. That behavioral insights teams in government are too powerful
  3. C. That the boundary between persuasion and manipulation can become unclear, especially with vulnerable consumers
  4. D. That nudge theory is too complex for most businesses to implement effectively
Show Answer
Correct: That the boundary between persuasion and manipulation can become unclear, especially with vulnerable consumers
Summary
Show Model Summary
The lecture introduces behavioral economics as a field that challenges the traditional assumption of rational economic decision-making by showing that people are subject to systematic cognitive biases. Key concepts covered include loss aversion, anchoring, and nudge theory, with examples ranging from retail pricing to organ donation policy. The speaker highlights the significant implications for business strategy while also raising ethical concerns about the potential for these insights to cross the line from persuasion into manipulation.

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