HESI A2
HESI A2 Version 1 Reading Comprehension Questions
Extract:
The ebb and flow of laughter and silence fills the room as four old friends gather to engage in a
round of Bridge playing. For the beginner, Bridge can be complicated, but with time, effort, and a good teacher, even the novice can become proficient. Composed of two main parts, bidding and playing, Bridge requires the player's undivided attention. The dealer deals the entire deck of playing cards evenly between the for players, with
each person receiving thirteen cards. In the bidding portion of the game, the four suits of cards in the deck are ranked highest to lowest as follows: spades, hearts, diamonds, and finally clubs. However, during play all the suits of cards are
considered equals, and they go from highest to lowest from the ace being high to the two cards
being low. The highest number of tricks wins. A trick is one card played by each player for a
total of four. After the lead player lays down his/her card, the other players follow suit, if
possible. The highest card within the four "same suit" cards played wins the trick and picks up all
four cards. If a player cannot follow suit, he/she plays any card, but to make the game more
interesting and challenging, one suit is named a trump suit which means that if a player plays a
card from the trump suit, it always wins the trick. If two cards from the trump suit are played, the
highest card within the trump suit wins the trick. Obviously, the team with the most tricks wins
the hand.
Question 1 of 5
In the passage, a trick is described as
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the passage, a trick is defined as a collection of one card played by each of the four players. During gameplay, each player plays one card, and the highest card of the same suit wins the trick. The team with the most tricks wins the hand. Understanding what constitutes a trick is essential in mastering the game of Bridge. It is crucial for players to grasp the concept of a trick to strategize their gameplay effectively and aim to win as many tricks as possible to secure victory in the game.
Extract:
The Water Cycle
Water is needed to sustain practically all life functions on planet Earth. A single drop of this compound is composed of an oxygen atom that shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms.
The cycle starts when precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, descends from the sky onto the ground. Water that is not absorbed immediately from the precipitation is known as runoff. The runoff flows across the land and collects in groundwater reservoirs, rivers, streams, and oceans.
Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas. Water vapor returns to the air from surface water and plants.
Ultimately, condensation happens when this water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of liquid. In fact, the puffy, cotton clouds that we observe are formed by condensation. When the clouds become heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation ensues.
Question 2 of 5
What does the word 'composed' mean in the first paragraph?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'A: To consist of.' In this context, 'composed' means made up of or formed by. The sentence refers to a single drop of water being made of an oxygen atom that shares its electrons with two hydrogen atoms. Therefore, 'composed' in this context signifies the idea of something being comprised or made up of other elements.
Extract:
The Water Cycle
Water is needed to sustain practically all life functions on planet Earth. A single drop of this compound is composed of an oxygen atom that shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms.
The cycle starts when precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, descends from the sky onto the ground. Water that is not absorbed immediately from the precipitation is known as runoff. The runoff flows across the land and collects in groundwater reservoirs, rivers, streams, and oceans.
Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas. Water vapor returns to the air from surface water and plants.
Ultimately, condensation happens when this water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of liquid. In fact, the puffy, cotton clouds that we observe are formed by condensation. When the clouds become heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation ensues.
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following words is an antonym for the word 'comprised'?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The term 'comprised' means to include or contain. An antonym would be a word that signifies the opposite of including or containing. The correct answer, 'Exclude,' means to leave out or omit, which is the opposite of comprising.
Extract:
What effect does your voice have on others? Does it persuade or irritate, attract or repel? One of
the worst qualities is harshness. If you ever get the feeling that people are uncomfortable when you speak, it may be that your harsh tones are jarring their eardrums. Your voice will sound
unpleasant if it is shrill, grating, hard, piercing, brassy, to loud, or too nasal. Harsh voice qualities usually come from too much tension in the throat and jaw. Tension tightens muscles and blocks the relaxed voice tones essential to a pleasing impression. Because tension occurs in higher pitched voices, women tend to have shriller voices than men, which usually makes them
less desirable public speakers, newscasters, or political candidates.
Question 4 of 5
According to the passage, what does the author imply about the effect of voice tones on public speaking?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The author emphasizes the significance of voice tones in public speaking, suggesting that harsh voice qualities can make a person less desirable as a public speaker. The passage highlights that unpleasant voice qualities like being shrill, grating, or piercing can result from too much tension in the throat and jaw, which negatively impacts the audience's perception. Therefore, the correct answer is A, as the author implies that voice tones play a crucial role in making a positive impression on the audience in public speaking.
Extract:
The Water Cycle
Water is needed to sustain practically all life functions on planet Earth. A single drop of this compound is composed of an oxygen atom that shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms.
The cycle starts when precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, descends from the sky onto the ground. Water that is not absorbed immediately from the precipitation is known as runoff. The runoff flows across the land and collects in groundwater reservoirs, rivers, streams, and oceans.
Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas. Water vapor returns to the air from surface water and plants.
Ultimately, condensation happens when this water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of liquid. In fact, the puffy, cotton clouds that we observe are formed by condensation. When the clouds become heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation ensues.
Question 5 of 5
What can the reader conclude from this passage about ponds and lakes?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ponds and lakes are mentioned in the passage as part of the water cycle. The text states that runoff water collects in groundwater reservoirs, rivers, streams, and oceans. Since ponds and lakes are water bodies that collect and store runoff, they can be considered as examples of groundwater reservoirs. Therefore, the correct answer is A: 'They are examples of groundwater reservoirs.' Ponds and lakes play a significant role in the collection and storage of water within the water cycle, contrary to options B and C, which incorrectly suggest they are not important or do not play a role. Option D is incorrect as it oversimplifies the water sources for ponds and lakes by stating they consist solely of water collected through precipitation.