How to practice: This set collects only the Speaking Sample 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.
Q1
What changes do you think are most important for creating a more sustainable future? Give specific examples and explain your reasoning.
Useful Expressions
If I had to identify... · The single most important... · That said, · I think these two areas...
Show Model Response
If I had to identify the changes most critical to a sustainable future, I would focus on two interconnected areas: energy systems and food systems. On the energy side, the single most important transition is replacing coal-fired power generation with renewable energy at scale. Solar and wind costs have fallen dramatically over the past decade, making this economically viable in most parts of the world, yet fossil fuel subsidies continue to distort the market in favor of carbon-intensive options. Eliminating those subsidies and redirecting them toward renewable infrastructure would accelerate the transition considerably.
On the food side, reducing industrial livestock farming is essential. Animal agriculture accounts for a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions, uses vast quantities of water and land, and drives deforestation. Encouraging a shift toward plant-rich diets — not necessarily fully vegan, but significantly more plant-forward — would have cascading benefits for emissions, biodiversity, and public health. I think these two areas offer the greatest leverage because they address both energy supply and consumption patterns simultaneously, rather than treating sustainability as an individual lifestyle issue.
On the food side, reducing industrial livestock farming is essential. Animal agriculture accounts for a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions, uses vast quantities of water and land, and drives deforestation. Encouraging a shift toward plant-rich diets — not necessarily fully vegan, but significantly more plant-forward — would have cascading benefits for emissions, biodiversity, and public health. I think these two areas offer the greatest leverage because they address both energy supply and consumption patterns simultaneously, rather than treating sustainability as an individual lifestyle issue.
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