HESI A2 VERSION 1
READING COMPEHENSION
Doppler Effect
1. Which statement is not listed as a detail in the passage?
A. The oncoming sound waves have a
... [Show More] higher pitch because of high frequency and closeness
of waves.
B. The oncoming sound waves have a higher pitch because of low frequency and closeness
of waves.
C. The whistling sound of the locomotive as it approaches and passes can be explained by
the Doppler effect.
D. The high-pitched sound of the ambulance as it approaches and passes can be explained
by the Doppler effect.
2. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Trains and ambulances make distinctly loud noises.
B. Low-frequency waves make high-pitched sounds.
C. High-frequency waves make low-pitched sounds.
D. The Doppler Effect explains the rationale for why sound is heard initially more strongly
and then faintly after a moving object has passed.
3. What is the meaning of the word phenomenon in the second paragraph?
A. Something that is lifeless to the senses
B. Something that is nonchalant
C. Something that is significant but unusual
D. Something that is chemical in origin
4. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
A. To entertain the reader with information about trains and ambulances
B. To inform the reader about avoiding accidents, which involve trains and ambulances
C. To inform the reader about how movement affects sound
D. To analyze the difference between train and ambulance sounds
5. Which sound waves have a higher pitch?
A. Those waves that are closer together
B. Those waves that are farther apart
C. Those waves that travel a long distance
D. Those waves that travel a short distance
6. Which sound waves have a lower pitch?
A. Those waves that are closer together
B. Those waves that are farther apart
C. Those waves that travel a long distance
D. Those waves that travel a short distance
Electrocardiogram
7. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing the essay?
A. To persuade the reader to have an ECG
B. To entertain the reader with a heart-warming story
C. To inform the reader how an electrocardiograph reads the electric currents emitted by the
heart
D. To analyze the difference in the SA node and the AV node
8. Which statement is not listed as a detail within the passage?
A. Changes in the ECG are typically used for diagnosis of abnormal cardiac rhythm.
B. The signal has a characteristic record called the electrocardiogram.
C. The “wave of excitation” starts at the SA node.
D. The “wave of excitation” spreads through the heart wall and is accompanied by electric
changes.
9. What is the meaning of the word emitting as it is used in the second paragraph?
A. Repelling
B. Releasing
C. Closing
D. Charging
10. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the heart.
B. The ECG systematically and quickly measures the stages at which the “wave of
excitation” occurs within the heart and records them.
C. The “wave of excitation” is detected on the surface of the body and is used to measure
the atrial excitation of the heart.
D. The electric currents within the body are in direct relation to the “wave of excitation”
measured by the ECG.
11. What is the best summary of the passage?
A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the heart.
Medical staff are trained to recognize any abnormalities within the heart.
B. Every individual has unique electric currents on the surface of the body. The ECG
measures and records these electric currents.
C. The ECG systematically and rather quickly measures the stages at which the “wave of
excitation” occurs within the heart and records them. This wave has three distinct steps that
spread from the SA node to the AV node.
D. The ECG measures the electric currents within the body. These currents are detected on
the surface of the body when the body is connected to an amplifier.
12. What are the three steps of the “wave of excitation”?
A. The discharge from the SA node, the peak ECG, and the excitement of the ventricle.
B. The excitement of the ventricle, the relaxing of the ventricle, and the systemic neural
response.
C. The contraction of the atrium, the relaxation of the atrium, and the contraction of the
ventricle.
D. The excitation of the atrium, the excitement of the ventricle, and the relaxing of the
ventricle.
Blood Pressure Regulators.
13. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring baroreceptors.
B. Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring chemoreceptors.
C. Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring the kidneys.
D. Blood pressure can be regulated through baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the
kidneys.
14. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. Baroreceptors are rigid and static nerve endings that are contained along the arterial
walls and send out messages along the nerve pathway.
B. Chemoreceptors are located along the walls of the arteries and monitor changes in
oxygen level.
C. The kidneys play a role in regulating blood pressure by absorbing salts and water.
D. The heart is the body’s pump, which regulates the flow of vitally needed oxygen to cells
of the body.
15. What is the meaning of the word evolved in the first paragraph?
A. To spread
B. To gradually develop
C. To revolve
D. To shift
16. What is the writer’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
A. To inform the reader about the dangers of high blood pressure
B. To inform the reader how high blood pressure leads to a higher risk of heart attack
C. To inform the reader how the cardiovascular system regulates blood pressure
D. To persuade the reader that controlling one’s blood pressure is important
17. What is the best summary of this passage?
A. The body’s pump, the heart, regulates the flow of oxygen to all cells of the body and
discards waste products that include carbon dioxide. The kidneys help in this process by
absorbing salts and water.
B. There are several systems to maintain the natural functions and processes of the body.
One system is the cardiovascular system, which regulates blood pressure through baroreceptors,
chemoreceptors, and the kidneys.
C. Baroreceptors help regulate blood pressure and are found along the wall of the arteries.
Baroreceptors send out impulses to the heart, arteries, and veins, resulting in the lowering or
raising of blood pressure.
D. Chemoreceptors monitor changes in oxygen level that affect blood pressure.
18. What is a major difference in the way baroreceptors and chemoreceptors work from the
way the kidneys work?
A. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors both work within the wall of the arteries sending out
impulses to raise or lower blood pressure, whereas the kidneys help control blood volume.
B. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors both work to help maintain blood volume, whereas
the kidneys take care of salts, water, and waste removal.
C. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors must work together to control blood pressure,
whereas the kidneys work with the adrenal cortex.
D. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors are both located near the adrenal cortex, whereas the
kidneys are located near the heart.
Questions 19 to 24 pertain to the following passage:
The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that defends the body against
attacks by foreign invaders. These invaders are primarily microbes—tiny organisms such as
…………………………….
19. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Scientists fully understand the immune system.
B. The immune system triggers the production of fluids.
C. The body is under constant invasion by malicious microbes.
D. The immune system protects the body from infection.
20. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. Most invaders of the body are microbes.
B. The immune system relies on excellent communication.
C. Viruses are extremely sophisticated.
D. The cells of the immune system are organized.
21. What is the meaning of the word ideal as it is used in the first paragraph?
A. thoughtful
B. confined
C. hostile
D. perfect
22. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. Scientists can now see T cells.
B. The immune system ignores tumors.
C. The ability of the immune system to fight disease without harming the body remains
mysterious.
D. The immune system remembers millions of different invaders.
23. What is the meaning of the word enlist as it is used in the second paragraph?
A. call into service
B. write down
C. send away
D. put across
24. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing the essay?
A. to persuade
B. to analyze
C. to inform
D. to entertain
Questions 25 to 28 pertain to the following passage:
The federal government regulates dietary supplements through the United States Food and Drug
………………….
25. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Manufacturers of dietary supplements have to follow good manufacturing practices.
B. The FDA has a special program for regulating dietary supplements.
C. The federal government prosecutes those who mislead the general public.
D. The FDA is part of the federal government.
26. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. Promoters of dietary supplements can make any claims that are supported by research.
B. GMP requirements for large manufacturers went into effect in 2008.
C. Product advertising is regulated by the FTC.
D. The FDA does not monitor products after they enter the market.
27. What is the meaning of the phrase phased in as it is used in the third paragraph?
A. stunned into silence
B. confused
C. implemented in stages
D. legalized
28. What is the meaning of the word deceptive as it is used in the fifth paragraph?
A. misleading
B. malicious
C. illegal
D. irritating
Questions 29 to 32 pertain to the following passage:
Foodborne illnesses are contracted by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated with
bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Harmful chemicals can also cause foodborne illnesses if they have
contaminated food during harvesting or processing. Foodborne illnesses can cause symptoms
…………
29. What is the subject of the passage?
A. foodborne illnesses
B. the dangers of uncooked food
C. bacteria
D. proper food preparation
30. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. Every year, more than 70 million Americans contract some form of foodborne illness.
B. Once food is cooked, it cannot cause illness.
C. Refrigeration can slow the growth of some bacteria.
D. The most common form of contamination in handled foods is calicivirus.
31. What is the meaning of the word pathogens as it is used in the first paragraph?
A. diseases
B. vaccines
C. disease-causing substances
D. foods
32. What is the meaning of the word sterile as it is used in the second paragraph?
A. free of bacteria
B. healthy
C. delicious
D. impotent
The Water Cycle
33. What is the meaning of the word composed in the first paragraph?
A. To consist of
B. To be uniquely discovered
C. To be set apart
D. To be surprised
34. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Water is formed from the joining of two hydrogen atoms to one atom of oxygen.
B. Water is a versatile and important universal solvent.
C. The different components of the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, and
condensation.
D. Rain is a trivial part of the life cycle.
35. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. A single drop of water is made of a couple of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms.
B. Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor.
C. Water that is not absorbed is called runoff.
D. Condensation fails to happen when water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of
liquid.
36. What was the author’s primary purpose for writing this essay?
A. To persuade the reader to conserve water
B. To persuade the reader that runoff is not the best way to collect water
C. To analyze different types of runoff
D. To inform the reader about the stages of the water cycle
37. What can the reader conclude from this passage about ponds and lakes?
A. They are examples of groundwater reservoirs.
B. They are not important in the collection of runoff.
C. They do not play a role in water collection.
D. They consist of only water collected through precipitation.
38. Knowing that the cooling of water vapor results in condensation, one could conclude
that is/are a factor in the evaporation process.
A. Humidity
B. Heat
C. Electrons
D. Runoff
Questions 39 to 42 pertain to the following passage:
Searching for medical information can be confusing, especially for first-timers. However, if you
are patient and stick to it, you can find a wealth of information. Your community library is a
good place to start your search for medical information. Before going to the library, you may
find it helpful to make a list of topics you want information about and questions you have. Your
list of topics and questions will make it easier for the librarian to direct you to the best
resources…………….
39. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Infotrac is a useful source of information.
B. The community library offers numerous resources for medical information.
C. Searching for medical information can be confusing.
D. There is no reason to prepare a list of topics before visiting the library.
40. What is the meaning of the word popular as it is used in the third paragraph?
A. complicated
B. old-fashioned
C. beloved
D. for the general public
41. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. Abstracts summarize the information in an article.
B. Having a prepared list of questions enables the librarian to serve you better.
C. Infotrac is a database on CD-ROM.
D. The articles in popular magazines can be hard to understand.
42. What is the meaning of the word technical as it is used in the fourth paragraph?
A. requiring expert knowledge
B. incomplete
C. foreign
D. plagiarized
Blood Pressure
43. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Blood pressure overall measures the elasticity of the arteries near the heart as they
stretch to accommodate expelled blood.
B. Blood pressure within the arterial system takes into account that pressure is different at
varying locations.
C. Blood pressure is simply the force that the blood exerts in all directions within any given
area, measured as a ratio.
D. Blood pressure represents the pulse difference between ventricular contractions.
44. Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
A. The ventricular contraction asserts capillary pressure that is about 70 mm Hg.
B. The pressures at different places in the circulatory system are different.
C. Increase in blood pressure can occur if arterial walls lose some of their elasticity.
D. Blood pressure is expressed as a ratio of systolic over diastolic pressure.
45. What is the meaning of the word elasticity in the last paragraph?
A. Something that is able to resist and be flexible
B. Something that is like plastic
C. Something that is dynamic and electrifying
D. Something that is silly
46. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
A. To entertain the reader with information about the blood system
B. To analyze how blood pressure can affect an individual’s health
C. To inform the reader how blood pressure is measured
D. To persuade the reader of the importance of accurate blood pressure procedures
47. Which of the following is not a fact stated in the passage?
A. Ventricular contracting injects roughly 70 mL of blood into a vascular system.
B. Blood pressure is typically taken in the brachial artery of the arm.
C. Blood pressure is commonly expressed as a ratio of the systolic pressure over the
diastolic pressure.
D. Loss of arterial wall elasticity is always caused by disease.
48. Which is the best summary of this passage?
A. The heart pumps roughly 70 mL of blood by rapidly contracting and extending the
chamber doors of the heart. Disease and age affect the pressure of blood on arterial walls.
B. The brachial artery of the arm is usually used to take blood pressure, although the
pressure is different in different parts of the body.
C. The measurement of the ratio of systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure is known as
blood pressure.
D. The force that blood exerts on arterial walls is known as blood pressure and is measured
as a ratio of the systolic pressure or “high peak” over the diastolic pressure or “low peak.”
MATH
1. Evaluate
ANS: 63
2. Evaluate
ANS: 40
3. Solve for x:
ANS: X=8
4. Solve for t:
ANS: t= -19
5. A newborn weighs 8 pounds 5 ounces. There are 453.59 grams per pound. What is the
infant’s weight in grams?
A. 2268 grams
B. 3629 grams
C. 3770 grams
D. 3856 grams
6. What temperature in Fahrenheit is 50° Celsius? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding
is necessary, round to the nearest whole number.)
122° F
7. A nurse works in a military hospital from 1300 to 2000. What time of day does this nurse
work?
A. Early morning to early afternoon
B. Lunch time to midnight
C. Early afternoon to bedtime
D. Midnight to sunrise
8. A nurse is reviewing the daily intake and output (I&O) of a patient consuming a clear
diet. The urinary drainage bag denotes a total of 1,000 mL for the past 24 hours. The total
intake is:
2 8-oz cups of coffee
1 16-oz serving of clear soup
1 pint of water consumed throughout the day
How much is the deficit in milliliters? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is necessary,
round to the nearest whole number.)
440
9. A woman received a bottle of perfume as a present. The bottle contains ½ oz of
perfume. How many milliliters is this? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
necessary, round to the nearest whole number.)
15
10. The metric system of measurement was developed in France during Napoleon’s reign. It
is based on what multiplication factor?
A. The length of Napoleon’s forearm
B. 2
C. 10
D. Atomic weight of helium
11. Round to the nearest whole number: 4748 ÷ 12 =
A. 372
B. 384
C. 396
D. 412
12. Report all decimal places: 3.7 + 7.289 + 4 =
A. 14.989
B. 5.226
C. 15.0
D. 15.07
13. 4.934 + 7.1 + 9.08 =
A. 21.114
B. 21.042
C. 20.214
D. 59.13
14. 27 – 3.54 =
A. 24.56
B. 23.46
C. 33.3
D. 24.54
15. 28.19 – 9 =
A. 28.1
B. 18.19
C. 27.29
D. 19.19
16. Karen goes to the grocery store with $40. She buys a carton of milk for
$1.85, a loaf of bread for $3.20, and a bunch of bananas for $3.05. How much money does she
have left?
A. $30.95
B. $31.90
C. $32.10
D. $34.95
17. Round your answer to the tenths place: 0.088 × 277.9 =
A. 21.90
B. 2.5
C. 24.5
D. 24.46
18. Round your answer to the hundredths place: 28 ÷ 0.6 =
A. 46.67
B. 0.021
C. 17.50
D. 16.8
19. Roger’s car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon. If his gas tank holds 16 gallons,
about how far can he drive on a full tank?
a. 41 miles
b. 100 miles
c. 320 miles
d. 400 miles
20. Express the answer in simplest form:
=A.
B.
C.
D.
21. Express the answer in simplest form:
=A.
B.
C.
D.
22. Ratio and proportion: 0.8:10 :: x:100
A. x = 0.8
B. x = 8
C. x = 80
D. x = 800
23. Add: 9.98 + 0.065 =
A. 10.63
B. 10.045
C. 1.0063
D. 998.065
24. Add: 6 + 12.55 + 5.022 =
A. 18.55
B. 23.572
C. 30.025
D. 16.475
25. Add: 23.5 + 7.025 =
A. 30.525
B. 30.5
C. 30.025
D. 16.475
26. Subtract: 32.21 - 4.68 =
A. 14.59
B. 27.53
C. 1.459
D. 31.742
27. Subtract: 15.7 - 9.8 =
A. 6.1
B. 8.96
C. 5.9
D. 4.30
28. Subtract: 10.012 - 0.120 =
A. 10
B. 9.012
C. 10.122
D. 9.892
29. Multiply: (7.2)(0.34) =
A. 14.12
B. 0.234
C. 7.64
D. 2.448
30. Multiply: (99)(0.56) =
A. 99.30
B. 99.56
C. 55.44
D. 199.54
31. Multiply: (88)(7.08) =
A. 862.5
B. 88.040
C. 64.252
D. 623.04
32. Multiply: 375 × 2.3 =
A. 862.5
B. 750
C. 225.75
D. 1125
33. How many ounces are in 2 quarts?
A. 8 ounces
B. 16 ounces
C. 32 ounces
D. 64 ounces
34. A shopper spends $75.64 at one store and $22.43 at the next store. The shopper started
out with $100.00. How much money does the shopper have left?
A. $1.93
B. $5.00
C. $0.72
D. $20.13
35. Change the fraction to the simplest possible ratio:
A. 2:3
B. 4:7
C. 4:6
D. 3:5
36. Two-thirds of the students in Mr. Garcia’s class are boys. If there are 27 students in the
class, how many of them are girls?
a. 1
b. 9
c. 12
d. 20
37. Solve for x:
3:2 :: 24:x
a. 16
b. 12
c. 2
d. 22
38. Solve for x:
7:42 :: 4:x
a. 12
b. 48
c. 24
d. 16
39. Change the decimal to a percent: 0.64 = A.
0.64%
B. 64%
C. 6.4%
D. 0.064%
40. Change the decimal to a percent: 0.000026 = A.
0.0026%
B. 0.026%
C. 2.6%
D. 26%
41. Change the percent to a decimal: 38% = A. 3.8
B. 0.038
C. 38.0
D. 0.38
42. Change the percent to a decimal: 17.6% = A. 17.6
B. 1.76
C. 0.176
D. 0.0176
43. Change the percent to a decimal: 126% = A. 126.0
B. 0.0126
C. 0.126
D. 1.26
44. Round to the nearest whole number. Change the fraction to a percent:
=
A. 20%
B. 21%
C. 22%
D. 23%
45. Round to the nearest whole number. Change the fraction to a percent:
=
A. 33%
B. 69%
C. 72%
D. 78%
46. Round to the nearest whole number: What is 17 out of 68, as a percent?
A. 17%
B. 25%
C. 32%
D. 68%
47. Round to the nearest percentage point: Gerald made 13 out of the 22 shots he took in
the basketball game. What was his shooting percentage?
A. 13%
B. 22%
C. 59%
D. 67%
48. Round to the nearest whole number: What is 18% of 600?
A. 108
B. 76
C.254
D. 176
49. Round to the tenths place: What is 6.4% of 32? A. 1.8
B. 2.1
C. 2.6
D. 2.0
50. What is the numerical value of the Roman number XVII?
a. 22
b. 17
c. 48
d. 57
VOCABULARY
1. What word meaning “once a year” fits best in the sentence?
The family reunion picnic was held at the Jones farm instead of the county park.
A. regular
B. annual
C. biennial
D. holiday
2. Docile is best defined as being .
A. defiant
B. disobedient
C. firm
D. compliant
3. Select the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence.
Because the patient had an occluded artery, the physician decided to perform cardiovascular
surgery.
A. Obstructed
B. Open
C. Broken
D. Cloudy
4. Select the word that means “an undesired problem that is the result of some other
event.”
The complication of the surgery caused the patient to remain in the hospital to have an
additional complement of testing procedures implemented.
A. Complication
B. Complement
C. Procedures
D. Implemented
5. Select the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence.
The dog developed bilateral weakness in its hindquarters, so the veterinarian created a wheeled
cart to help the dog walk.
A. Present on two sides
B. Available for exercise
C. Affecting the left side
D. Affecting the right side
6. Select the correct definition of the underlined word.
The doctor’s prognosis gave the patient and his family reason to feel optimistic about the
surgery [Show Less]