Duolingo English Test Reading Comprehension 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the Duolingo English Test's Interactive Reading section, what is the PRIMARY skill being assessed when you are asked to identify the main idea of a passage?
- Memorizing specific facts from the text
- Understanding the central point the author is making (Correct answer)
- Identifying all supporting details
- Counting the number of paragraphs
Correct answer: Understanding the central point the author is making
Main idea questions test whether you understand the central argument or point the author is making throughout the entire passage.
Question 2: When a DET reading passage states 'The policy was met with considerable resistance,' what can you INFER about the policy?
- It was widely popular among citizens
- Many people opposed or objected to it (Correct answer)
- It was implemented without any discussion
- It had no significant effects
Correct answer: Many people opposed or objected to it
'Considerable resistance' implies strong opposition, so inferring that many people objected is the logical conclusion.
Question 3: In the sentence 'The scientist's hypothesis was corroborated by subsequent experiments,' what does 'corroborated' most likely mean?
- Disproved or refuted
- Supported or confirmed (Correct answer)
- Ignored or dismissed
- Replaced by a new theory
Correct answer: Supported or confirmed
'Corroborated' means confirmed or supported by evidence; experiments that produce matching results corroborate a hypothesis.
Question 4: A DET reading passage begins by describing a problem, presents multiple viewpoints, and ends with a proposed solution. What type of text structure is this?
- Chronological order
- Problem-solution (Correct answer)
- Compare and contrast
- Cause and effect
Correct answer: Problem-solution
A passage that introduces a problem and concludes with a resolution follows the problem-solution text structure.
Question 5: When reading a DET passage, which strategy BEST helps you answer detail questions accurately?
- Rely entirely on your background knowledge
- Skim only the first paragraph of the passage
- Return to the specific section of the passage that addresses the question (Correct answer)
- Answer based on what seems most logically reasonable
Correct answer: Return to the specific section of the passage that addresses the question
Detail questions require going back to the passage to locate exact information rather than relying on memory or assumptions.
Question 6: A DET passage uses words like 'unfortunately,' 'sadly,' and 'regrettably' throughout. What does this suggest about the author's tone?
- Optimistic and encouraging
- Neutral and objective
- Sorrowful or disappointed (Correct answer)
- Humorous and light-hearted
Correct answer: Sorrowful or disappointed
Words with negative emotional connotations like 'unfortunately' and 'sadly' consistently indicate a sorrowful or disappointed tone.
Question 7: In the DET Interactive Reading task, when asked to select a sentence that BEST completes a paragraph, what should guide your choice?
- The longest sentence available in the options
- The sentence that introduces a completely new topic
- The sentence that logically connects to the paragraph's main idea and flows naturally from the preceding content (Correct answer)
- The sentence with the most advanced vocabulary
Correct answer: The sentence that logically connects to the paragraph's main idea and flows naturally from the preceding content
The best completing sentence maintains the paragraph's topic and connects logically with the preceding content, ensuring coherence.
Duolingo English Test Reading Comprehension 1
In the Duolingo English Test's Interactive Reading section, what is the PRIMARY skill being assessed when you are asked to identify the main idea of a passage?