HESI A2 Reading Comprehension Practice Test

HESI A2 Reading Comprehension Practice Test Related

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AMAZON RAINFOREST:
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 of the world's fresh 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 a year. 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.

What conclusion can be drawn from the passage on the Amazon Rainforest?

  • A. The Amazon Rainforest is shrinking at a rapid pace.
  • B. The Amazon Rainforest is not affected by human activity.
  • C. The Amazon Rainforest will survive indefinitely.
  • D. The Amazon Rainforest has no significant impact on global warming.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct conclusion that can be drawn from the passage on the Amazon Rainforest is that it is shrinking at a rapid pace. The passage explicitly mentions the rapid deforestation and shrinking of the Amazon Rainforest due to human activities like logging and burning. This conclusion is supported by the alarming statistics provided, such as 9,169 square miles of forest being cut down in Brazil in 2003, and an area of rainforest the size of a football field being burned down every minute. This rapid destruction poses a significant threat to the survival of the Amazon Rainforest and its biodiversity. Choice B is incorrect as the passage clearly states that human activities are causing harm to the rainforest. Choice C is incorrect because the passage highlights the current dangers and threats faced by the Amazon Rainforest, indicating that its survival is at risk. Choice D is also incorrect as the passage clearly explains the significant impact of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest on global warming due to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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FOOD:
Food and drink are necessary and desirable, but their abuse can cause serious physical and metal problem. Many physicians believe that overeating is one of the country's main health problems, since it places a great strain on the heart, can lead to diabetes, and often shortens the individual's life span. To fill an emotional void, people often turn to food when they are bored or lonely.
Another area of concern is alcohol consumption. The results of alcohol abuse are widely publicized. The social drinker who becomes alcoholic, the drunken driver's contribution to highway death, spousal and child abuse, are all concomitant problems associated with alcohol abuse.

What is implied by this paragraph about food and drink?

  • A. We should eat and drink in reasonable quantities.
  • B. Alcohol should be banned.
  • C. People should eat in large quantities.
  • D. We need stronger laws to control drunk drivers.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The paragraph emphasizes that while food and drink are necessary and desirable, their abuse can lead to serious physical and mental problems. It highlights the negative consequences of overeating and alcohol abuse, such as strain on the heart, diabetes, and other health issues. The text suggests the importance of moderation in consumption to prevent health problems. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the paragraph does not call for a ban on alcohol, promote eating in large quantities, or specifically discuss the need for stronger laws to control drunk drivers.

EATING:
Consumption of food is a universal necessity. Different cultures have developed different methods to accomplish the task. It is interesting to discover these differences and learn new ways to do things.
European cultures developed cutlery (knives, forks, and spoons) to enable people to efficiently eat their food. Correct use of this tools changes with the times- what was polite in 1800 may not be considered proper manners today.
China developed the chopstick as an efficient tool for eating. Mastery of the use of chopsticks can be difficult for the person not raised in the culture. The attempts of a novice to use chopsticks can be very amusing to the watcher, but frustrating for the hungry diner.
Space travel has created new challenges for consuming food. Squeeze bottles and other unique packaging have enabled space travelers to get their needed nutrition. Chopsticks and forks do not work well in space.

What is the best definition of 'efficient' as used in the third paragraph?

  • A. Slow but steady.
  • B. Productive without waste.
  • C. Wasteful and careless.
  • D. Quick but sloppy.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct definition of 'efficient' in the third paragraph is 'Productive without waste.' In the extract provided, it discusses how different cultures developed tools like cutlery and chopsticks to efficiently eat food. Efficiency here refers to getting something done with the least amount of waste. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately capture the concept of efficiency discussed in the passage.

EATING:
Consumption of food is a universal necessity. Different cultures have developed different methods to accomplish the task. It is interesting to discover these differences and learn new ways to do things.
European cultures developed cutlery (knives, forks, and spoons) to enable people to efficiently eat their food. Correct use of this tools changes with the times- what was polite in 1800 may not be considered proper manners today.
China developed the chopstick as an efficient tool for eating. Mastery of the use of chopsticks can be difficult for the person not raised in the culture. The attempts of a novice to use chopsticks can be very amusing to the watcher, but frustrating for the hungry diner.
Space travel has created new challenges for consuming food. Squeeze bottles and other unique packaging have enabled space travelers to get their needed nutrition. Chopsticks and forks do not work well in space.

What conclusion can be drawn from the article on Eating?

  • A. The author thinks chopsticks are funny.
  • B. Space flight is fun and exciting.
  • C. The author enjoys trying new food.
  • D. Diversity is interesting to learn about.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The author highlights cultural diversity and the variety of eating habits in the article. The passage discusses the different eating methods developed by various cultures, such as cutlery in European cultures and chopsticks in China. It emphasizes the interest in discovering these cultural differences and learning new ways of doing things, showcasing the importance of diversity. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not align with the main focus of the article, which is cultural diversity and eating habits, rather than the author's opinion on chopsticks, space flight, or personal food preferences.

EATING:
Consumption of food is a universal necessity. Different cultures have developed different methods to accomplish the task. It is interesting to discover these differences and learn new ways to do things.
European cultures developed cutlery (knives, forks, and spoons) to enable people to efficiently eat their food. Correct use of this tools changes with the times- what was polite in 1800 may not be considered proper manners today.
China developed the chopstick as an efficient tool for eating. Mastery of the use of chopsticks can be difficult for the person not raised in the culture. The attempts of a novice to use chopsticks can be very amusing to the watcher, but frustrating for the hungry diner.
Space travel has created new challenges for consuming food. Squeeze bottles and other unique packaging have enabled space travelers to get their needed nutrition. Chopsticks and forks do not work well in space.

What statement from the article draws a conclusion?

  • A. Chopsticks can be hard to use.
  • B. Eating with cutlery was invented in Europe.
  • C. It is interesting to discover new ways to do things.
  • D. Space travel has created new challenges for eating.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'It is interesting to discover new ways to do things.' This statement draws a conclusion by summarizing the learning experience mentioned throughout the article. It reflects on the diversity of eating habits across cultures and the fascination in discovering and adapting to new methods of accomplishing tasks. Choice A is incorrect as it describes a fact rather than drawing a conclusion. Choice B is incorrect as it also presents a historical fact without concluding or summarizing any information. Choice D is incorrect because it states a fact about the challenges of space travel without offering a concluding remark or summarizing the topic.

THE SUMMER OLYMPICS GAME:
The Summer Olympic Games are held every four years and occur during leap years. Write a C++ program that asks the user to enter a year and then tells if this is a year of Olympic Games or not. Pass the entered year to a function that determines if it is a leap year or not. Based on the finding of this function, print an appropriate message in the main() to let the user know if the Olympic Games are going to be held or not.
All years which are perfectly divisible by 4 are leap years, except for century years (years ending with 00). Century years are leap years only if they are perfectly divisible by 400. For example, 2012, 2004, and 1968 are leap years, but 1971 and 2006 are not leap years. Similarly, 1200, 1600, 2000, and 2400 are leap years, but 1700, 1800, and 1900 are not.

What is stated in the passage about the Olympic Games?

  • A. The Olympic Games are held every four years.
  • B. The Olympic Games are often postponed.
  • C. The Olympic Games are held only in leap years.
  • D. The Olympic Games only involve certain countries.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'The Olympic Games are held every four years,' as stated in the passage. The extract explicitly mentions that the Summer Olympic Games are held every four years. Choice B is incorrect as there is no mention of the Olympic Games being often postponed in the passage. Choice C is incorrect because although the Olympic Games occur during leap years, they are not exclusively held only in leap years. Choice D is incorrect as there is no indication in the passage that the Olympic Games only involve certain countries.

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