DAT Practice Test (Reading Comprehension) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On the DAT Reading Comprehension section, which strategy best helps you locate a specific detail quickly?
- Scanning the passage for keywords from the question (Correct answer)
- Rereading the entire passage from the start
- Memorizing the first paragraph
- Skipping to the conclusion only
Correct answer: Scanning the passage for keywords from the question
Scanning for question keywords lets you find the relevant sentence without rereading everything.
Question 2: The DAT Reading Comprehension section requires test-takers to demonstrate which core ability?
- Comprehending scientific passages without prior subject knowledge (Correct answer)
- Recalling memorized biology facts
- Performing chemical calculations
- Translating Latin terms
Correct answer: Comprehending scientific passages without prior subject knowledge
The section tests reading skill on unfamiliar scientific material, not prior content knowledge.
Question 3: A question asks for the 'main idea' of a passage. The best answer usually:
- Captures the overall central point of the whole passage (Correct answer)
- States a single supporting detail
- Quotes one example verbatim
- Describes only the final paragraph
Correct answer: Captures the overall central point of the whole passage
Main-idea answers summarize the passage as a whole, not one detail.
Question 4: How many reading passages does the DAT Reading Comprehension section typically contain?
- Three (Correct answer)
- One
- Six
- Ten
Correct answer: Three
The section has three passages of scientific reading material.
Question 5: When a question asks what a word means 'as used in the passage,' you should:
- Use the surrounding context to determine the intended meaning (Correct answer)
- Always choose the most common dictionary definition
- Pick the most scientific-sounding option
- Select the longest answer choice
Correct answer: Use the surrounding context to determine the intended meaning
Context determines the intended meaning, which may differ from the common definition.
Question 6: An 'inference' question on the DAT expects an answer that is:
- Logically supported by the passage but not stated directly (Correct answer)
- Copied word-for-word from the text
- Based on your outside knowledge
- Contradicted by the passage
Correct answer: Logically supported by the passage but not stated directly
Inferences must be supported by the text yet are not explicitly stated.
Question 7: Roughly how much time is allotted for the entire DAT Reading Comprehension section?
- About 60 minutes (Correct answer)
- About 10 minutes
- About 180 minutes
- About 5 minutes
Correct answer: About 60 minutes
Test-takers get approximately 60 minutes for the Reading Comprehension section.
DAT Practice Test (Reading Comprehension) 2
On the DAT Reading Comprehension section, which strategy best helps you locate a specific detail quickly?