Duolingo English Test: Effective Techniques for Fill-in-the-Blanks & Read-and-Complete Questions
Preparing for the Duolingo English Test (DET) requires getting really the Fill-in-the-Blanks and Read-and-Complete sections. These question types assess your ability to comprehend sentences and predict missing words accurately.
Here, we’ll cover three key techniques to help you confidently approach these questions and boost your score with practical strategies.
Why Focus on These Techniques?
The Fill-in-the-Blanks and Read-and-Complete sections test your ability to:
- Understand context and sentence meaning
- Use vocabulary knowledge to predict missing words
- Recognize common word structures and suffixes
Tip 1: Use Context Clues
Reading the entire sentence before filling in the blank is essential. Instead of guessing, use context clues to predict the most appropriate word.
Example 1:
❌ “I was able to cat a glimpse of the president as his motorcade passed by.”
✅ Corrected: “I was able to catch a glimpse of the president as his motorcade passed by.”
The phrase "catch a glimpse" is a common expression, making "catch" the logical choice.
Example 2:
❌ “She was so tired that she could hardly con her thoughts.”
✅ Corrected: “She was so tired that she could hardly concentrate her thoughts.”
The sentence suggests someone struggling to think clearly, making "concentrate" the correct word.
If you’re stuck, try replacing the blank with a synonym that fits the sentence.
Tip 2: Predict the Word Type
Before selecting an answer, identify what kind of word is missing—noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
Example 1:
❌ "He tried to man the situation calmly."
✅ Corrected: "He tried to manage the situation calmly."
Since the sentence requires a verb, the word "manage" makes sense in this context.
Example 2:
❌ "The meeting was extremely in."
✅ Corrected: "The meeting was extremely informative."
Here, an adjective is needed, and "informative" correctly describes the meeting.
How to Spot Real and Fake Words on the Duolingo English Test: Best Tips for Success
💡 Quick Tip:
- If the missing word follows “a” or “an”, it’s likely a noun.
- If the missing word ends the sentence, it’s often an adjective or adverb.
Tip 3: Recognize Common Suffixes
The Read-and-Complete section often hides parts of words. Recognizing common suffixes like -less, -ful, -ment, -tion, -able can help you complete words faster.
Example 1:
❌ “Without any support, he felt completely help.”
✅ Corrected: “Without any support, he felt completely helpless.”
Adding "-less" completes the word logically.
Example 2:
❌ “She was extremely care about the project.”
✅ Corrected: “She was extremely careful about the project.”
By adding "-ful", we form the correct adjective.
Familiarize yourself with common prefixes and suffixes before your test to make faster, more accurate choices.
Final Thoughts
By mastering these three techniques:
✅ Using context clues to predict missing words
✅ Identifying the correct word type (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)
✅ Recognizing common suffixes for completion
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