The Dental Admission Test (DAT)

The following are examples of typical DAT questions covering all four categories on this examination:

PART 1 Survey of Natural Sciences

100 questions; time limit: 90 minutes

Biology (40 questions on test)

1. Exocytosis occurs when this organelle's membrane fuses with the plasma membrane.

1. Secretory vesicle
2. Nucleus
3. Mitochondrion
4. Ribosome
5. Golgi body

2. NAD and FAD are important molecules in living systems because they

1. cause the synthesis of ATP from ADP and phosphate.
2. serve as oxidation-reduction coenzymes.
3. can reduce the activation energy of a biological reaction.
4. control the level of acetyl Co-A in the cell.
5. are essential reactants in those reactions called dehydration reactions.

3. The addition of potassium iodide as a nutritional supplement to common table salt would most directly affect the function of which of these glands?

1. Thyroid
2. Sweat glands
3. Adrenal cortex
4. Kidneys
5. Parathyroid

4. The outer layer of cells, the ectoderm, in a developing embryo gives rise to the

1. muscle system.
2. reproductive system.
3. circulatory system.
4. skeletal system.
5. nervous system.

5. Removal of the gallbladder makes it more difficult to digest foods high in

1. carbohydrates.
2. nucleic acids.
3. proteins.
4. fats.
5. vitamins.

Inorganic Chemistry (30 questions on test)

6. Supercooled water at −10°C can spontaneously warm to 0°C in a perfectly insulated container. This is possible because

1. supercooled materials do not obey energy conservation laws.
2. supercooled water needs less energy for change of temperature than ordinary water.
3. a small amount of energy is given to the surroundings.
4. some of the water freezes and this provides energy.
5. ice is unusual in that it is less dense than liquid water.

7. How many grams of NaOH (40.0 g/mol) are required to make 250 ml of a 0.500 M solution?

1. (250)(0.500)
2. (250)(500)/1000
3. (250)(0.500)(40.0)/1000
4. 1000/(250)(0.500)(40.0)
5. (250)(0.500)(40.0)

8. What is the percentage of oxygen by weight in Zn(H₂PO₄)₂ (259g/mol)?

1. 53.3%
2. 24.7%
3. 39.5%
4. 6.18%
5. 49.4%

9. At 0°C and 1.0 atmosphere pressure (STP) 22.0 grams of gas occupies 11.2 liters. The gas could be which of the following?

1. CO₂ = 44g/mol
2. CO = 28g/mol
3. NH₃ = 17g/mol
4. CH₄ = 16g/mol
5. C₄H₁₀ = 58g/mol

10. When the following equation is properly balanced, the coefficient of H₂O is Mg₃N₂ + H₂O → Mg(OH)₂ + NH₃

1. 9
2. 6
3. 4
4. 3
5. 2

Organic Chemistry (30 questions on test)

11. In the reaction, the major product is

12. Which reaction below is a possible termination step in the free radical chlorination of CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ by Cl₂?

1. CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ + Cl → CH₃CH₂•CHCH₃ + HCl
2. CL₂ → Cl• + Cl•
3. CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂• + Cl• → CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂Cl
4. CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ + Cl• → CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂• + HCl
5. CH₃CH₂•CHCH₃ + CL₂ → CH₃CH₂CHCH₃ + Cl•

13. Which is the correct structure of para-aminobenzoic acid, PABA, a common ingredient in sunscreens?

14. What is the product of the following reaction?

15. The IUPAC name for the compound shown below is:

1. 3,5-Dimethyl-3-ethylhexane
2. 4,4-Dimethyl-2-ethylhexane
3. Trimethylheptane
4. 3,3,5-Trimethylheptane
5. 3,5-Trimethylheptane

PART 2 Quantitative Reasoning

16. 1/4 + 2/5 − 1/6 = ?

1. −1/60
2. 2/15
3. 29/60
4. 8/15
5. 49/60

17. A person's earnings increased by 10% from Year 1 to Year 2, and decreased 10% from Year 2 to Year 3. Which of the following percentages represents the change from Year 1 to Year 3?

1. +20
2. +1
3. 0
4. −1
5. −11

18. $180 is to be shared by Bob and Frank so that Frank gets 25% more than Bob. How much does Bob get?

1. $72
2. $80
3. $100
4. $108
5. $144

19. A box of clarinet reeds sells for $8 but is on sale at 25% off. If there is a sales tax of 6%, the total cost of one box is

1. $5.52
2. $5.65
3. $6
4. $6.36
5. $6.48

20. 42−1/6 = 0.1x What is x?

1. 7
2. 25.2
3. 70
4. 252
5. 2520

PART 3 Perceptual Ability

21. Examine the four INTERIOR angles and rank each in terms of degrees from SMALL TO LARGE. Choose the alternative that has the correct ranking.

ALTERNATIVES

1. A—B—C—D
2. B—A—D—C
3. A—C—B—D
4. C—D—A—B

22. The pictures that follow are top, front, and end views of various solid objects. The views are without perspective. That is, the points in the viewed surface are viewed along parallel lines of vision. The projection of the object looking DOWN on it is shown in the upper left-hand corner (TOP VIEW). The projection looking at the object from the FRONT is shown in the lower left-hand corner (FRONT VIEW). The projection looking at the object from the END is shown in the lower right-hand corner (END VIEW). These views are ALWAYS in the same positions and are labeled accordingly.

Note that lines that cannot be seen on the surface in some particular view are DOTTED in that view.

In the problems that follow, two views will be shown, with four alternatives to complete the set. You are to select the correct one and mark its number on the answer sheet.

EXAMPLE: Choose the correct END VIEW.

23–25. This group of cubes has been made by cementing together cubes of the same size. After being cemented together, each group was PAINTED ON ALL EXPOSED SIDES EXCEPT THE BOTTOM ON WHICH IT IS RESTING.

In the figure how many cubes have

23. two of their exposed sides painted?

24. four of their exposed sides painted?

25. five of their exposed sides painted?

26. This visualization test consists of a number of items similar to the following sample. A three-dimensional object is shown at the left. This is followed by outlines of five apertures or openings. First, you are to imagine how the object looks from all directions (rather than from a single direction as shown). Then, pick from the five apertures outlined, the opening through which the object could pass directly if the proper side were inserted first.

Here are the rules:

1. Prior to passing through the aperture, the irregular solid object may be turned in any direction. It may be started through the aperture on a side not shown.
2. Once the object is started through the aperture, it may not be twisted or turned. It must pass completely through the opening. The opening is always the exact shape of the appropriate external outline of the object.
3. Both objects and apertures are drawn to the same scale. Thus it is possible for an opening to be the correct shape but too small for the object. In all cases, however, differences are large enough to judge by eye.
4. There are no irregularities in any hidden portion of the object. However, if the figure has symmetric indentations, the hidden portion is symmetric with the part shown.
5. For each object there is only one correct aperture.

27. A flat pattern will be presented. This pattern is to be folded into a three-dimensional figure. The correct figure is one of the four given at the right of the pattern. There is only one correct figure in each set. The outside of the pattern is what is seen at the left.

Answers to Sample Questions

Part 1 Survey of Natural Science

BIOLOGY	INORGANIC CHEMISTRY	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
1. A	6. D	11. C
2. B	7. C	12. C
3. A	8. E	13. A
4. E	9. A	14. B
5. D	10. B	15. D

Part 2 Quantitative Reasoning

16. C

17. D

18. B

19. D

20. E

Part 3 Perceptual Ability

21. B

22. B

23. A

24. B

25. A

26. C

27. D

Explanation of Perceptual Ability Questions

21. The correct ranking of the angles from small to large is B-A-D-C; therefore, alternative B is correct.

22. The front view shows that there is a smaller block on the base and that there is no hole. The top view shows that the block is round and in the center of the base. The answer, therefore, must be B.

23–25. We are determining the number of exposed and painted sides for each of the four cubes. A cube by definition has six sides. Because the bottom of these four cubes are unpainted, there can be a maximum of five painted sides. In addition, where cubes are cemented together, the number of possible unpainted sides is diminished.

Cube A has five painted sides: its bottom is unpainted and is glued to the top of cube D, thus answering question 25.

Cubes B and C each have four painted sides, because their bottoms are unpainted and one of their sides is cemented to cube D. This answers question 24.

Cube D, which is hidden below cube A and behind cube C, has two painted sides. Its bottom (all the cubes) is unpainted, and two of its sides and its top are cemented to cubes A, B, and C, respectively. This answers question 23.

26. The correct answer is C since the object would pass through this aperture if the side at the left were introduced first.

27. One of the figures (A,B,C,D) can be formed from the flat pattern at the left. The only figure that corresponds to the pattern is D. If the shaded surfaces are looked at as the sides of the box, then all four sides must be shaded, while the top and bottom are white.