HPAT - Health Professions Admissions Identifying Missing Segments Questions and Answers

Question 1

A pattern is established in the first two rows of the grid below. Which of the answer figures logically completes the third row?

Accepted Answer

An empty triangle

Answer

The pattern across each row is subtraction. The figure in the third column is the result of removing the elements of the figure in the second column from the figure in the first column. For row 1, removing the cross from the square containing a cross leaves an empty square. For row 2, removing the vertical line from the circle containing a vertical line leaves an empty circle. Therefore, for row 3, removing the dot from the triangle containing a dot leaves an empty triangle.

Question 2

A sequence of figures shows a shape rotating and an internal element changing. Which figure is the correct next step in the sequence?

Accepted Answer

A C-shape open at the top, with an internal filled line segment.

Answer

There are two independent patterns. First, the main C-shape rotates 90 degrees clockwise in each step. Starting from open-right, it goes to open-bottom (Fig 2), then open-left (Fig 3), so the next step is open-top. Second, the internal element changes by reducing its complexity or number of sides: a filled circle (approximated as infinite sides or a single curved boundary) is followed by a filled square (4 sides), then a filled triangle (3 sides). The next logical step in this progression is a filled line segment (2 sides). Therefore, the correct answer is a C-shape open at the top with a filled line segment inside.

Question 3

Each figure in the sequence contains a circle, a square, and a triangle, which change position and layering according to a consistent rule. Which figure logically continues the sequence?

Accepted Answer

Top layer: Circle (bottom-right), Middle layer: Square (center), Back layer: Triangle (top-left).

Answer

The sequence of shapes (Circle, Square, Triangle) follows a cyclical pattern through the three layers/positions. In each step: 1. The shape that was on the top layer moves to the back layer and the top-left position. 2. The shape that was in the middle layer moves to the top layer and the bottom-right position. 3. The shape that was at the back layer moves to the middle layer and the center position. Following this rule from Figure 3 (Top: Triangle, Mid: Circle, Back: Square), the Triangle moves to the back, the Circle moves to the top, and the Square moves to the middle. This configuration matches Figure 1, indicating the pattern repeats every three steps. Thus, Figure 4 is identical to Figure 1.

Question 4

In this sequence, the third figure of a set is derived from the preceding two. Following this rule, which figure should replace the question mark? [Sequence: Figure A (a large circle), Figure B (a large cross), Figure C (the circle and cross are superimposed, with the overlapping area shaded black). This is followed by Figure D (a large pentagon), Figure E (a large triangle), and a question mark.]

Accepted Answer

A triangle superimposed over a pentagon, with the overlapping area shaded black.

Answer

The pattern established by Figures A, B, and C is that the third figure is a superposition of the first two, and the area where they intersect is shaded black. To find the missing figure, we must apply this same rule to Figures D and E. This means superimposing the triangle and the pentagon, and then shading the area where they overlap.

Question 5

A sequence of figures shows a shape changing in two ways. Which of the following figures is the correct fifth figure in the sequence?

Accepted Answer

A hexagon with five dots arranged in a pentagon shape and a thin outline.

Answer

There are two concurrent patterns. First, the number of dots inside the hexagon increases by one in each step (1, 2, 3, 4, ...), so the fifth figure must have five dots. The arrangement of the dots mimics the vertices of a shape corresponding to the number of dots (3 dots form a triangle, 4 dots form a square), so five dots should be arranged in the shape of a pentagon. Second, the outline of the hexagon alternates between thin and thick. Since Figure 4 has a thick outline, Figure 5 must have a thin outline.

HPAT - Health Professions Admissions Test Practice Test

HPAT - Health Professions Admissions Test Practice Test

HPAT - Health Professions Admissions Identifying Missing Segments Questions and Answers