HESI A2
HESI A2 Version 4 Reading Comprehension Questions
Extract:
About 6% of the earth is covered by rainforests. The largest rainforest in the world is the
Amazon Basin, which stretches over 2.3 million square miles in nine different South American countries. This area is double the length of all the other remaining rainforests in the world. Brazil contains 60%of the Amazonian rainforest, since it lies at the mouth of the river Amazon. This river is the second largest in the world and contains more than one-fifth oftheworldĆ¢ā‚¬ā„¢sfresh water. The Amazon rainforest is a type of wet broadleaf forest. The weather there is very humid and warm as it rains quite a bit. Because of the high rainfall, the forest is very rich and green. The
tree leaves are pointed and narrow so that the raindrops can easily drop off wet plants. This
tropical rainforest has more living species than the entire European continent. There are over 400 types of insects living in one single rain forest tree for a total of 2.5 million species. One square kilometer of rainforest may contain over 75,000 types of trees and approximately 438,000
different kinds of plants, which comes to a total of 90,000 tons of greenery overall. The Amazon rainforest is home to 2,000 birds and mammals, with one in every five birds in the world living there. Local farmers have lived off this rich and diverse land for thousands of years. They have been able to find food and water here without destroying the land. The Kayapo people of Brazil
farm in an environmentally-friendly way. Instead of chemicals, they use burned wood to enrich the soil, and plant banana trees, which attract wasps. These wasps then feed on leafcutter ants and get rid of these harmful insects. The rainforest also offers a lot of tropical fruits, such as bananas and coconuts, as food.
Cinnamon is made from the bark of a rainforest tree. Amazonian Indians use the fruit and stem
of the Buruti plant as a drink, to make bread and to build houses. Many other plants are used as medicine. But the Amazon rainforest is in very big danger of disappearing. 9,169 square miles of
forest have been cut down in 2003 in Brazil alone. An area of the size of a football field is burned down basically every minute, which means that the rain forest may be gone by the year 2030.The dangers related to this type of activity are obvious. Trees take in poisonous carbon
dioxide from the air and give off oxygen. There is more oxygen and less carbon dioxide around a
rainforest. When trees are cut down, however, the amount of carbon dioxide increases, and the
air gets warmer. This leads to global warming, which is extremely harmful to the environment. It
is estimated that the burning of Brazilian rainforests alone produces 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide ayear. Another danger connected with destroying the rainforest is the disappearance of plants and animals. When trees are cut down, plants and animals have no more
food left and slowly die out. Killing wild animals is illegal in Brazil, but there is plenty of stealing going on. 38 million animals are stolen and sold illegally each year. The most hunted
animals are birds, especially parrots, followed by snakes and the jaguar.
Question 1 of 5
What does the author refer to when he says 'rich and diverse land' at the beginning of paragraph 3?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When the author mentions 'rich and diverse land' at the beginning of paragraph 3, they are referring to the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, specifically highlighting the presence of 2,000 birds and mammals. This biodiversity includes a wide range of species that contribute to the richness and diversity of the ecosystem, making the Amazon rainforest a unique and vital habitat for numerous animals and plants. The reference to 2,000 birds and mammals emphasizes the vast array of wildlife that thrives in this environment, showcasing the richness and diversity of life forms present in the Amazon rainforest.
Extract:
About 6% of the Earth is covered by rainforests. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon Basin, which stretches over 2.3 million square miles across nine different South American countries. This area is double the size of all the other remaining rainforests in the world. Brazil contains 60% of the Amazonian rainforest, as it lies at the mouth of the Amazon River. This river is the second largest in the world and contains more than one-fifth of the world’s fresh water. The Amazon rainforest is classified as a type of wet broadleaf forest. The weather there is very humid and warm, with substantial rainfall contributing to the forest's rich greenery. The tree leaves are pointed and narrow, allowing raindrops to easily slide off wet plants. This tropical rainforest is home to more living species than the entire European continent, with over 400 types of insects living in a single rainforest tree, totaling around 2.5 million species. One square kilometer of rainforest may contain over 75,000 types of trees and approximately 438,000 different kinds of plants, resulting in a total of 90,000 tons of greenery overall. The Amazon rainforest is home to 2,000 species of birds and mammals, with one in every five birds in the world residing there. Local farmers have lived off this rich and diverse land for thousands of years, finding food and water without destroying the environment. The Kayapo people of Brazil farm in an environmentally friendly manner. Instead of using chemicals, they burn wood to enrich the soil and plant banana trees, which attract wasps. These wasps feed on leafcutter ants, helping to control these harmful insects. The rainforest also provides a variety of tropical fruits, such as bananas and coconuts, as food sources. Cinnamon is made from the bark of a rainforest tree, and Amazonian Indians use the fruit and stem of the Buruti plant for drinks, bread, and construction. Many other plants are used for medicinal purposes. However, the Amazon rainforest is in significant danger of disappearing. In 2003 alone, 9,169 square miles of forest were cut down in Brazil. An area the size of a football field is burned every minute, suggesting that the rainforest may be gone by the year 2030. The dangers associated with this activity are clear. Trees absorb poisonous carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. Rainforests have more oxygen and less carbon dioxide in their vicinity. When trees are cut down, the amount of carbon dioxide increases, resulting in a warmer atmosphere. This leads to global warming, which is extremely harmful to the environment. It is estimated that the burning of Brazilian rainforests alone produces 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Another significant danger associated with the destruction of the rainforest is the disappearance of plants and animals. When trees are cut down, plants and animals lose their food sources and gradually die out. While killing wild animals is illegal in Brazil, poaching remains a problem. An estimated 38 million animals are stolen and sold illegally each year. The most hunted animals are birds, especially parrots, followed by snakes and jaguars
Question 2 of 5
According to the information given, which of the following is NOT mentioned about the Amazon Rainforest?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage provides details about the Amazon Rainforest, such as its size, location, the river Amazon, and its characteristics as a wet broadleaf forest. However, there is no mention of the specific amount of rainfall in the Amazon Rainforest. The passage focuses on various aspects of the rainforest but does not discuss its precipitation levels. Therefore, the correct answer is C: 'Its rainfall.'
Extract:
Subjective exams measure your ability in several areas. Besides recall information, you must be
able to realize content logically and intelligently express yourself in a clearly understood manner. Subjective test provide opportunity for students to show their broad knowledge of a subjective
area. Answers may be in the form of paragraphs or lengthy essays. When your review for an essay exam, concentrate on main ideas rather than details. Since essay tests are less to a few questions, they are likely to deal with more important ideas of a subject. Prepare a list of question you think might be asked. Write an answer to each of your questions. Rather than writing complete sentence down your thoughts in outline form. Doing so will help
you organize the information so that you can express yourself clearly.
When you take the test, read through all the questions before you start to write. Allot time for each question, spending more time for questions worth the most points. Read each question carefully to determine exactly what they are asked. Pay attention to words such as define, illustrate, explain, list, compare, and contrast. Each work requires a different type of response. Write a brief outline of your answer on scrap paper or the back of the test. Make sure you include all the important ideas that are within the limits of the question. In other words, do not write more than is asked for each answer. When you write your answer, keep it specific and as brief as possible. In the introductory sentence it is often helpful to make a general statement that includes
important points addressed in each question. Such a topic sentence serves as a framework for your answer. Then use your outline to develop the main point and subtopics. Add substance to
your answer by including as many facts as possible to support your answer.
Check your paper before you submit it. Look for mistakes in grammar, spelling, sentence
structure, and punctuation. Unless you are certain an answer is wrong, do not change it. Your answer is an educated guess and is usually your best chance of answering correctly.
Question 3 of 5
In the above passage, the word 'subjective' refers to test questions that:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The term 'subjective' in the passage refers to test questions that require you to write your own answer, as mentioned in the text. Subjective tests typically involve expressing your understanding and knowledge in your own words, often through paragraphs or essays. This type of assessment allows students to demonstrate their comprehension and analytical skills by formulating responses based on their interpretation of the content, rather than selecting from predefined options. Therefore, the correct answer is D: 'Require you to write your own answer.'
Extract:
Question 4 of 5
Not only the students but also the professor ___ stunned by the test results.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this sentence, 'students' and 'professor' are part of a compound subject joined by 'not only...but also,' which makes the subject singular. Since the subjects are singular, the correct verb to use is 'was,' making choice A the correct answer.
Extract:
People of Hispanic origin were on the North American continent centuries before settlers arrived
from Europe in the early 1600s and the thirteen colonies joined together to form the United
States in the late 1700s. The first census of the new nation was conducted in 1790, and counted about four million people, most of whom were white. Of the white citizens, more than 80%
traced their ancestry back to England. There were close to 700,000 slaves and about 60,000 "free Negroes". Only a few Native American Indians who paid taxes were included in the census count, but the total Native American population was probably about one million. By 1815, the population of the United States was 8.4 million. Over the next 100 years, the
country took in about 35 million immigrants, with the greatest numbers coming in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1882, 40,000 Chinese arrived, and between 1900 and 1907, there were more
than 30,000 Japanese immigrants. But by far, the largest numbers of the new immigrants were
from central, eastern, and southern Europe. An enormous amount of racial and ethnic assimilation has taken place in the United States. In 1908, play-write Israel Zangwill first used the term "melting pot" to describe the concept of a place where many races melted in a crucible and re-formed to populate a new land. Some years during the first two decades of the 20th century, there were as many as one million new
immigrants per year, an astonishing 1 percent of the total population of the United States.
In 1921, however, the country began to limit immigration, and the Immigration Act of 1924
virtually closed the door. The total number of immigrants admitted per year dropped from as many as a million to only 150,000. A quota system was established that specified the number of
immigrants that could come from each country. It heavily favored immigrants from northern and western Europe and severely limited everyone else. This system remained in effect until 1965, although after World War II, several exceptions were made to the quota system to allow in
groups of refugees.
Question 5 of 5
How many immigrants were taken in over the 100 years leading up to 1915?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: About 35 million. The text mentions that over the 100 years leading up to 1915, the United States took in approximately 35 million immigrants. This period saw a significant influx of immigrants, with the largest numbers coming in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Immigration Act of 1924 later limited immigration, reducing the number of immigrants admitted per year. Answer choices A, C, and D do not align with the information provided in the text regarding the influx of immigrants during this period.