How to practice: This set collects only the Speaking Sample question type from the real DET (Duolingo English Test), covering DET Speaking questions. No grading and no timer, so solve it yourself, then tap each question to reveal the answer or model response.
Q1
What is your favorite animal? What can people do to protect it and why is it important to protect animals?
30s to prepare · 3:00 to speak · 1 take only
Useful Expressions
My favorite animal is... · What I admire most is... · One thing people can do is... · It's important because... · In conclusion...
Show Model Response
My favorite animal has always been the elephant, and honestly, the more I learn about them, the more fascinated I become. What I admire most about elephants is just how intelligent and emotionally complex they are. They live in tight-knit family groups, they mourn when a member of their herd dies, and they can even recognize themselves in a mirror, which is something very few animals are capable of doing.
Unfortunately, elephant populations have been declining significantly over the past few decades, mainly due to poaching for ivory and the loss of their natural habitat as land gets cleared for farming and development. This is honestly a pretty heartbreaking situation when you consider how socially advanced these animals are.
One thing people can do to help protect elephants is to support organizations that work directly on anti-poaching efforts and habitat conservation, whether that means donating money or simply spreading awareness about the issue. Governments also play a crucial role by enforcing stricter laws against the illegal ivory trade and by creating protected reserves where elephants can live safely without the constant threat of hunting.
On an individual level, something as simple as being a responsible tourist, avoiding attractions that exploit elephants for entertainment, and choosing ethical wildlife sanctuaries instead, can also make a meaningful difference over time.
It's important to protect animals like elephants not only because they're remarkable creatures in their own right, but also because they play a vital role in their ecosystems. Elephants help shape entire landscapes by knocking down trees, dispersing seeds, and creating water holes that other species depend on. Losing them wouldn't just mean losing one species; it would disrupt an entire web of life connected to them.
In conclusion, protecting elephants and other endangered animals isn't just an emotional issue for me, it's also about preserving the balance of ecosystems that countless other species, and ultimately humans too, rely on for survival.
Unfortunately, elephant populations have been declining significantly over the past few decades, mainly due to poaching for ivory and the loss of their natural habitat as land gets cleared for farming and development. This is honestly a pretty heartbreaking situation when you consider how socially advanced these animals are.
One thing people can do to help protect elephants is to support organizations that work directly on anti-poaching efforts and habitat conservation, whether that means donating money or simply spreading awareness about the issue. Governments also play a crucial role by enforcing stricter laws against the illegal ivory trade and by creating protected reserves where elephants can live safely without the constant threat of hunting.
On an individual level, something as simple as being a responsible tourist, avoiding attractions that exploit elephants for entertainment, and choosing ethical wildlife sanctuaries instead, can also make a meaningful difference over time.
It's important to protect animals like elephants not only because they're remarkable creatures in their own right, but also because they play a vital role in their ecosystems. Elephants help shape entire landscapes by knocking down trees, dispersing seeds, and creating water holes that other species depend on. Losing them wouldn't just mean losing one species; it would disrupt an entire web of life connected to them.
In conclusion, protecting elephants and other endangered animals isn't just an emotional issue for me, it's also about preserving the balance of ecosystems that countless other species, and ultimately humans too, rely on for survival.