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Episode: Duolingo English Test Prep Course: Interactive Reading

Author: DETPractice.com
Duration: 00:12:27

Episode Shownotes

Welcome to the DET Prep Hub podcast, where we break down everything you need to know about acing the Duolingo English Test. Today we're diving deep into one of the most challenging sections of the test: Interactive Reading. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by those tricky reading questions or found

yourself running out of time, you're in the right place. Whether you're aiming for that dream university admission or seeking to prove your English proficiency for work, mastering these six question types could be the game-changer you need. In the next few minutes, I'll walk you through expert strategies that have helped countless students boost their scores, including a clever time management approach that most test-takers overlook. Text-based version (including the exercise mentioned in the podcast): DET Prep Course: Interactive Reading Brought to you by DETPractice, the AI-powered Duolingo English Test prep platform.

Full Transcript

00:00:00 Speaker_00
Alright, so get this. We're going deep into the Duolingo English test today, specifically the interactive reading section. And we've got this excerpt from the Advancement DET course. It's like our cheat sheet for acing this part of the exam.

00:00:15 Speaker_01
Oh, it's definitely tricky.

00:00:16 Speaker_00
Yeah, and there's actually, get this, six different types of questions within interactive reading.

00:00:22 Speaker_01
Six.

00:00:23 Speaker_00
Six. So yeah, we're going to break those all down. Luckily, we've got an expert here who eats, sleeps, and breathes the DET.

00:00:30 Speaker_01
Well, I wouldn't say all that, but I've definitely learned a thing or two about this test.

00:00:34 Speaker_00
So the time limit. It's brutal, right? Like, seven or eight minutes for all six of those questions.

00:00:39 Speaker_01
Yeah, it's a real-time crunch. But here's the thing. The questions actually get easier as you go through them.

00:00:45 Speaker_00
Oh, really?

00:00:45 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:00:46 Speaker_00
Huh. So you kind of get warmed up as you go.

00:00:47 Speaker_01
Exactly. You start with the toughest and then work your way down.

00:00:50 Speaker_00
So it's not just about knowing the material. It's about strategy, too.

00:00:53 Speaker_01
Strategy is key. Knowing what to expect and how to approach each question type, it can make all the difference.

00:00:59 Speaker_00
So let's tackle these different types of questions one by one. First up, we've got complete the sentences.

00:01:06 Speaker_01
Oh, this can be tricky.

00:01:07 Speaker_00
Yeah, what's the best way to handle those?

00:01:09 Speaker_01
All right, so here's the thing. Before you even look at the blanks, read the whole passage.

00:01:14 Speaker_00
Really?

00:01:15 Speaker_01
Yep. You need to get the big picture first. The tone, the tense, the main idea.

00:01:20 Speaker_00
So it's not just about finding the right words. It's about understanding how they fit into the overall puzzle.

00:01:25 Speaker_01
Exactly. And that's where knowing those fixed collocations comes in handy.

00:01:30 Speaker_00
Collocations. You mean those, like, word pairs that always go together?

00:01:32 Speaker_01
Yep. Like strong coffee instead of powerful coffee.

00:01:35 Speaker_00
Right.

00:01:36 Speaker_01
They just sound right together.

00:01:37 Speaker_00
Right. Right. But sometimes, couldn't a less common collocation be a better fit?

00:01:42 Speaker_01
Sometimes, yeah. But it's all about developing that sense of what sounds natural. That's where reading a lot of different types of English really helps.

00:01:49 Speaker_00
So it's like training your ear for the music of language.

00:01:52 Speaker_01
I like that, yeah.

00:01:53 Speaker_00
Speaking of things that can trip you up, what about synonyms?

00:01:57 Speaker_01
Ah, yeah, the source material mentions those too.

00:01:59 Speaker_00
Because just because two words have similar meanings doesn't mean you can just swap them out, right?

00:02:03 Speaker_01
Right. Those subtle differences can really matter. And there's another important thing to remember. Once you click next after filling in those sentences, you can't go back.

00:02:13 Speaker_00
Oh, no. So no second chances.

00:02:15 Speaker_01
Nope. So double check those answers before you move on.

00:02:18 Speaker_00
Got it. Don't rush. All right. Next up, we've got complete the passage. This sounds kind of like those sentence insertion questions on the TOEFL.

00:02:27 Speaker_01
You're right. It's a similar idea. You've got a paragraph with a blank space, and you have to pick the sentence that fits best.

00:02:34 Speaker_00
Like a little mini-mystery to solve.

00:02:36 Speaker_01
Exactly. And the structure of the pathage is your biggest clue. Is it chronological? Cause and effect? Figuring that out helps you predict what kind of information is missing.

00:02:46 Speaker_00
Oh, that's helpful. It's like having a map.

00:02:49 Speaker_01
Right. And pay attention to the tense, topic words, and pronouns in the answer choices. Those little details can make all the difference.

00:02:56 Speaker_00
You mentioned the questions get easier as you go. Do certain types tend to show up at different stages?

00:03:01 Speaker_01
You know, there's a bit of a pattern. The complete the sentences and complete the passage questions, those usually come first when the difficulty level is higher.

00:03:10 Speaker_00
Makes sense. Those require a pretty deep understanding of language.

00:03:13 Speaker_01
Right. And then you move on to the highlight the answer questions. Those are more about finding specific details.

00:03:19 Speaker_00
OK. So less about filling in the blanks and more about proving you can find the right info quickly.

00:03:25 Speaker_01
Exactly. Think of them like classic reading comprehension questions. You find the key words in the question and scan the passage to locate them.

00:03:34 Speaker_00
Or they're synonyms, right?

00:03:35 Speaker_01
Right. And the answer might not always be a full sentence. Sometimes it's just a phrase or even a single word.

00:03:40 Speaker_00
So it's really testing your laser focus.

00:03:42 Speaker_01
It is. And you get two of these highlight the answer questions, so practice makes perfect.

00:03:46 Speaker_00
All right. What about identify the idea? What's the goal there?

00:03:50 Speaker_01
This one's about summarizing the main point of the passage. Not every little detail, but the core concept.

00:03:57 Speaker_00
Like boiling it down to its essence.

00:03:59 Speaker_01
Exactly. And here's a tip from the source material. If an answer choice uses words that aren't in the passage, it's wrong.

00:04:07 Speaker_00
Oh, that's sneaky. They're trying to trick you.

00:04:09 Speaker_01
Yep. So watch out for those. Okay. So we've covered five out of the six question types. What's the grand finale?

00:04:16 Speaker_00
Get me with it.

00:04:16 Speaker_01
It's titled the passage. This one really tests your ability to grasp the main idea and express it concisely.

00:04:24 Speaker_00
This is where I always struggle. It's so hard to sum up a whole passage in just a few words.

00:04:29 Speaker_01
It is tough. But remember, elimination is your friend. If a title has words that aren't in the passage, it's probably wrong.

00:04:37 Speaker_00
Right. And it should capture the main idea, not just some random detail.

00:04:40 Speaker_01
Exactly. A good title should make you want to read more.

00:04:43 Speaker_00
So before we jump into some examples, let's just quickly recap the six question types, just to make sure we're all on the same page.

00:04:48 Speaker_01
Sounds good to me.

00:04:49 Speaker_00
Okay, so we started with complete the sentences, right? Choosing the right words, paying attention to context and collocations.

00:04:55 Speaker_01
Yep.

00:04:56 Speaker_00
Then we had complete the passage, finding the missing sentence that fits perfectly, using those clues like structure and tense. Then those two highlight the answer questions, all about precision and scanning skills.

00:05:08 Speaker_01
Right.

00:05:09 Speaker_00
And then, shifting gears to the bigger picture, we had identify the idea, summarizing the main point, avoiding those tricky distractors.

00:05:17 Speaker_01
You got it.

00:05:18 Speaker_00
And finally, title the passage, creating a concise and accurate headline that captures the essence of the whole thing.

00:05:25 Speaker_01
Perfect.

00:05:26 Speaker_00
Okay, I think we've got a pretty good handle on those six types. Now the source material actually provides some sample questions. I want to walk through a couple together.

00:05:35 Speaker_01
Let's do it. I think seeing them in action will really make things click.

00:05:39 Speaker_00
Awesome.

00:05:39 Speaker_01
All right. So this first example, it's a complete the sentences question.

00:05:43 Speaker_00
Okay. Back to filling in those blanks.

00:05:45 Speaker_01
Right. So the passage, it's about this woman, Lenore, and she wants to like take on more responsibility at her company.

00:05:51 Speaker_00
Ambitious.

00:05:51 Speaker_01
Yeah, exactly. And the first sentence is, above all, Lenore wanted to an important part of her company's contract management team.

00:05:59 Speaker_00
OK. And what are our options for filling that blank?

00:06:02 Speaker_01
We've got someone, be, find, became, or are. All right.

00:06:07 Speaker_00
Well, right off the bat, grammatically, someone, became, and are just don't fit.

00:06:15 Speaker_01
Good. You're already eliminating options.

00:06:17 Speaker_00
That leaves be and find. Hmm. I think be fits better with Lenore's ambition, right?

00:06:22 Speaker_01
Exactly. She doesn't want to just find a role. She wants to be something more.

00:06:26 Speaker_00
It seems so obvious when you break it down like that.

00:06:29 Speaker_01
Right. But that's the point of having a strategy. You're not just guessing. You're using those clues.

00:06:33 Speaker_00
And this is just one blank, right? There are more.

00:06:36 Speaker_01
Oh, yeah. There are 11 blanks in this question.

00:06:38 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:06:40 Speaker_01
It's a good vocabulary workout. But don't worry. Remember, the questions get easier as we go.

00:06:46 Speaker_00
Okay. What about complete the passage? What's that example like?

00:06:49 Speaker_01
OK, so same passage about Lenore, but this time it's a whole paragraph with one sentence missing.

00:06:54 Speaker_00
Ooh, higher stakes.

00:06:55 Speaker_01
Right. So the last sentence of the paragraph is, Lenore was overjoyed. So we need to figure out what happened to make her feel that way.

00:07:02 Speaker_00
We're looking for the cause of that joy.

00:07:04 Speaker_01
Exactly. So we have to pick the sentence that explains why she's overjoyed.

00:07:07 Speaker_00
All right. Let's see those options.

00:07:09 Speaker_01
First one, it says, she was so certain of this idea that she didn't hesitate to offer it to him. What do you think?

00:07:17 Speaker_00
Hmm. I don't know. It seems kind of out of place. We don't know what this idea is.

00:07:21 Speaker_01
And it doesn't necessarily mean she'll be overjoyed.

00:07:23 Speaker_00
Right. OK, what's next?

00:07:25 Speaker_01
The second option talks about Lenore starting a new job, but we know she already works at the company.

00:07:30 Speaker_00
Yeah, that one's definitely out.

00:07:32 Speaker_01
And the third option, oh boy, it says the company went out of business.

00:07:35 Speaker_00
Not exactly a recipe for joy.

00:07:38 Speaker_01
Nope. OK, so that leaves us with option four. He told her not to worry and that he would speak to the rest of the team. What do you think?

00:07:47 Speaker_00
Oh, yeah. That makes sense. Her manager is supporting her ambition. That's why she's overjoyed.

00:07:52 Speaker_01
Bingo. It fits perfectly with the context.

00:07:55 Speaker_00
OK. I'm starting to feel like a detective here.

00:07:58 Speaker_01
That's spirit. Ready for highlight the answer.

00:08:01 Speaker_00
Bring it on.

00:08:02 Speaker_01
All right. The question is, what was Lenore's goal at her company? Remember, key words are key.

00:08:07 Speaker_00
Goal and company. Got it.

00:08:10 Speaker_01
And if we look back at the passage, there's a sentence that says, above all, Lenore wanted to be an important part of her company's contract management team. That answers the question directly.

00:08:21 Speaker_00
So we'd highlight that whole sentence?

00:08:22 Speaker_01
Yep, just like that.

00:08:23 Speaker_00
Easy peasy.

00:08:24 Speaker_01
Right. OK, second, highlight the answer question. This one asks, how did Lenore respond when her manager asked her if she wanted an expanded role?

00:08:34 Speaker_00
Keywords, keywords, respond, manager, and expanded role.

00:08:40 Speaker_01
You got it. And in the passage it says, the manager asked her if she thought the company should consider giving her a bigger role on the team, and she said she would be thrilled if they did. What would you highlight?

00:08:52 Speaker_00
She said she would be thrilled if they did.

00:08:53 Speaker_01
Nailed it.

00:08:54 Speaker_00
I feel like I could actually do this test now.

00:08:55 Speaker_01
You totally could. All right, ready for identify the idea, let's test those elimination skills.

00:09:01 Speaker_00
I was born ready.

00:09:02 Speaker_01
Okay, the question is, select the idea that is expressed in the passage. The first option says, Lenore wanted to get a new job because she wasn't being given enough responsibility at her current one.

00:09:12 Speaker_00
Nope, we know she wants to move up in the same company. That one's out.

00:09:16 Speaker_01
Good. What about option two? Lenore's new team was very different from the one she had been on before, but Lenore did her best to learn from them.

00:09:25 Speaker_00
There was no mention of a new team. It's like they're making stuff up.

00:09:28 Speaker_01
They are. Trying to trick you with those plausible sounding details. What about option three?

00:09:35 Speaker_00
It says something about Lenore having an assistant, but I don't remember that from the passage either.

00:09:40 Speaker_01
OK, so that leaves us with option four. Lenore was turned down most of the time when she requested a larger role, and she always seems stressed out.

00:09:48 Speaker_00
That one sounds right. It matches the passage.

00:09:51 Speaker_01
Yes. You use the process of elimination like a pro. All right. Ready for the final challenge. Title, the passage.

00:09:59 Speaker_00
Let's do it. I'm feeling way more confident now.

00:10:01 Speaker_01
OK. First option is Lenore's new job.

00:10:03 Speaker_00
Nope. Wrong. We know she's not getting a new job.

00:10:06 Speaker_01
Good catch. Second option is the challenging contract.

00:10:10 Speaker_00
Doesn't really fit. What about the third one?

00:10:12 Speaker_01
It says the client's complaint. What do you think?

00:10:15 Speaker_00
Completely irrelevant. Okay, so that leaves Lenore's Big Chance. That one's short, it captures the main idea, and it doesn't add any extra stuff. I think that's it.

00:10:26 Speaker_01
You are absolutely right. You just navigated all six question types like a champion.

00:10:31 Speaker_00
I feel like I just leveled up.

00:10:32 Speaker_01
You did. And remember, practice makes perfect. The more you do these, the easier they'll become. All right, before we move on, let's just recap those key takeaways one more time.

00:10:42 Speaker_00
Great idea, Repetition Help.

00:10:44 Speaker_01
So first, read carefully. Don't just skim, really understand the passage.

00:10:49 Speaker_00
That's number one, always.

00:10:50 Speaker_01
And second, don't forget about elimination. If an answer doesn't fit, toss it out.

00:10:55 Speaker_00
Like cleaning out your mental closet makes room for the right answers.

00:10:58 Speaker_01
And last but not least, time management. Don't get stuck on one question, keep moving.

00:11:02 Speaker_00
Speed and accuracy, that's the goal.

00:11:04 Speaker_01
This excerpt from the Advancement DET course has been so helpful. It's amazing how much of a difference a little strategy can make.

00:11:11 Speaker_00
Right. Preparation is key. And this is like having a roadmap for success.

00:11:15 Speaker_01
Our listeners are going to be so grateful for these tips. I hope so. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident you'll feel on test day.

00:11:23 Speaker_00
You've got this. Now, before we let you go, any final words of wisdom? Something that maybe wasn't directly in the source material, but that you've learned from your experience?

00:11:33 Speaker_01
You know, it's funny. These strategies, they're not just for the DET.

00:11:38 Speaker_00
Oh, tell me more.

00:11:39 Speaker_01
Like, they apply to reading anything, news articles, research papers, even that novel you've been meaning to finish.

00:11:46 Speaker_00
So it's about being a better reader overall.

00:11:48 Speaker_01
Exactly. When you pay attention to the context, the structure, the keywords, you just understand things better.

00:11:54 Speaker_00
It's like we're giving our listeners a secret decoder ring for the written word.

00:11:57 Speaker_01
Right. And think about how much we read every single day. Emails, social media, instructions. Being a good reader, it's a superpower.

00:12:07 Speaker_00
Totally. OK, well, this has been an incredible deep dive. I feel like I've learned so much.

00:12:11 Speaker_01
God hear it.

00:12:11 Speaker_00
A huge thank you to our expert for walking us through all the twists and turns of the interactive reading section.

00:12:17 Speaker_01
Any time.

00:12:18 Speaker_00
And for our listeners, seriously, check out the Advancement DET course. It's clear they know their stuff.

00:12:23 Speaker_01
Yeah, it's a great resource.

00:12:24 Speaker_00
All right, that's all the time we have for today.