Master the DTR Exam Practice
Questions & Rationales for Nutrition
Science, Foodservice, and
Management
## Domain I: Nutrition Science and Care for Individuals and Groups
### Questions 1-100
**1. Which organ is primarily responsible for the absorption of vitamin
B12?**
- A) Stomach
- B) Duodenum
- C) Ileum
- D) Colon
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Vitamin B12 binds to intrinsic factor (produced in the
stomach) and is absorbed in the terminal ileum via specific receptors.
,This is why patients with ileal resection or Crohn's disease affecting the
ileum may develop B12 deficiency.
---
**2. The Harris-Benedict equation is used to estimate:**
- A) Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
- B) Total body water
- C) Protein turnover
- D) Serum albumin concentration
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The Harris-Benedict formula calculates BMR based on
age, sex, weight, and height. This serves as the first step in estimating
total energy needs before applying activity and stress factors.
---
**3. A patient with chronic kidney disease (stage 4) should have dietary
potassium limited to approximately:**
- A) 2,000 mg/day
- B) 3,500 mg/day
- C) 5,000 mg/day
,- D) No restriction needed
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Advanced CKD reduces renal potassium excretion.
Limiting intake to approximately 2 g/day helps prevent life-threatening
hyperkalemia. Patients should avoid high-potassium foods like bananas,
potatoes, and oranges.
---
**4. In the Nutrition Care Process (NCP), the second step after nutrition
assessment is:**
- A) Nutrition diagnosis
- B) Intervention planning
- C) Monitoring and evaluation
- D) Documentation
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The NCP follows a specific sequence: Assessment →
Diagnosis → Intervention → Monitoring/Evaluation. The nutrition
diagnosis identifies and labels the specific nutrition problem that can be
addressed through intervention.
---
, **5. Which laboratory value is the best indicator of protein-energy
malnutrition?**
- A) Serum calcium
- B) Serum albumin
- C) Serum glucose
- D) Serum sodium
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Low serum albumin reflects inadequate protein intake
and may indicate inflammation, serving as a marker for protein-energy
malnutrition. However, albumin has a long half-life (about 21 days), so
it may not reflect acute changes.
---
**6. In the Transtheoretical Model, the stage where a client is "thinking
about making a change within the next 6 months" is called:**
- A) Precontemplation
- B) Contemplation
- C) Preparation
- D) Action
Questions & Rationales for Nutrition
Science, Foodservice, and
Management
## Domain I: Nutrition Science and Care for Individuals and Groups
### Questions 1-100
**1. Which organ is primarily responsible for the absorption of vitamin
B12?**
- A) Stomach
- B) Duodenum
- C) Ileum
- D) Colon
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Vitamin B12 binds to intrinsic factor (produced in the
stomach) and is absorbed in the terminal ileum via specific receptors.
,This is why patients with ileal resection or Crohn's disease affecting the
ileum may develop B12 deficiency.
---
**2. The Harris-Benedict equation is used to estimate:**
- A) Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
- B) Total body water
- C) Protein turnover
- D) Serum albumin concentration
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The Harris-Benedict formula calculates BMR based on
age, sex, weight, and height. This serves as the first step in estimating
total energy needs before applying activity and stress factors.
---
**3. A patient with chronic kidney disease (stage 4) should have dietary
potassium limited to approximately:**
- A) 2,000 mg/day
- B) 3,500 mg/day
- C) 5,000 mg/day
,- D) No restriction needed
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Advanced CKD reduces renal potassium excretion.
Limiting intake to approximately 2 g/day helps prevent life-threatening
hyperkalemia. Patients should avoid high-potassium foods like bananas,
potatoes, and oranges.
---
**4. In the Nutrition Care Process (NCP), the second step after nutrition
assessment is:**
- A) Nutrition diagnosis
- B) Intervention planning
- C) Monitoring and evaluation
- D) Documentation
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** The NCP follows a specific sequence: Assessment →
Diagnosis → Intervention → Monitoring/Evaluation. The nutrition
diagnosis identifies and labels the specific nutrition problem that can be
addressed through intervention.
---
, **5. Which laboratory value is the best indicator of protein-energy
malnutrition?**
- A) Serum calcium
- B) Serum albumin
- C) Serum glucose
- D) Serum sodium
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Low serum albumin reflects inadequate protein intake
and may indicate inflammation, serving as a marker for protein-energy
malnutrition. However, albumin has a long half-life (about 21 days), so
it may not reflect acute changes.
---
**6. In the Transtheoretical Model, the stage where a client is "thinking
about making a change within the next 6 months" is called:**
- A) Precontemplation
- B) Contemplation
- C) Preparation
- D) Action
