Linking San Francisco to Marin County in California, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. The bridge crosses over a narrow strait which connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. Prior to the bridge, people traveled by ferry boat across the strait.
Although most people thought a bridge was necessary to expedite travel, some residents of the
bay area felt the risk of building the bridge was too great. Joseph Strauss believed that nothing was impossible, and dreams would never come to fruition if risks weren't taken. So, he decided to gather the best and brightest builders, architects, and workers to embark on the challenge of
building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait. With safety nets in place, the construction began in 1937. Building the anchorages first, the
builders then move on to the towers on each end, and then to the three-foot thick cables to support the suspension bridge. Lastly, workers labored to complete the roadway which became
the most dangerous and treacherous part of the entire task. The builders had to keep the bridge
balance, so it wouldn't fall into the bay.
Today, over sixty-five years later, the bridge remains a life-line for the people of the San Francisco Bay Area.
What is the author's reason for writing this piece?
- A. Inform the reader
- B. Teach the reader
- C. Persuade the reader
- D. Entertain the reader
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Inform the reader. The passage provides historical information about the Golden Gate Bridge, its construction, and significance. The main purpose of the text is to educate and inform readers about the history and importance of the bridge, rather than to persuade, teach a specific lesson, or entertain. The details shared aim to enlighten readers about the background, challenges, and enduring legacy of the Golden Gate Bridge, making it an informative piece.
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Electrocardiogram
The rhythmic sounds of "beep... beep... beep..." signify the measurement of the heart muscle's strength. This rhythmic signal varies from person to person and is recorded as an electrocardiogram (ECG). Within the body, a complex array of systemic neural responses generates electric currents that can be detected on the skin's surface. When a person is connected to an amplifier, these impulses are captured by an electrocardiograph. Most of the information gathered pertains to the heart, as it emits electric currents in waves. This "wave of excitation" propagates through the heart wall and is associated with electrical changes. The process occurs in three distinct phases. First, the "wave of excitation," accompanied by an electrical change, lasts for about 1 to 2 seconds following the contraction of the cardiac muscle. These electrical impulses are rhythmically discharged from the sinoatrial (SA) node, which acts as the heart's natural pacemaker, signaling the atrium to contract. The peak of the ECG reading is attributed to the atrioventricular (AV) node, which triggers the excitation of the ventricles. Finally, as the ventricles relax, any changes in the wave pattern can alert trained medical personnel to potential abnormalities within the heart.
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.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it accurately summarizes the passage by highlighting that the ECG systematically measures the stages of the 'wave of excitation' within the heart. This wave has three distinct steps that spread from the SA node to the AV node. The other options either focus on general information about electric currents or do not capture the specific details provided in the passage about the ECG and the heart's electrical activity.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
The Electoral College has nothing to do with college and contains no students. The Electoral College consists of votes that each state acquires based on the number of representatives it has in Congress. Each state has two electoral votes because each state has two senators. The remaining electoral votes are determined by the number of Congressmen, the number of which is based on the population of the state established by the Census taken each decade. During the presidential election, most states cast all their electoral votes for the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state. It's all very confusing, but the founding fathers know what they were doing. Downloaded by Abdul Hamid (a.ahamid2181@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|10672023 HESI A2 V2 Grammar, Vocab, Reading, & Math Questions with Answers). By having and using the Electoral College candidates' campaign in every state, but just because they win the popular vote across the country doesn't mean they will always win the election. Case in point, in election 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote across the country, but George W. Bush won more electoral votes. Therefore, he became our 43rd president.
The author's reason for writing this piece seems to be to:
- A. Entertain the reader with anecdotes
- B. Persuade the reader to support a specific candidate
- C. Teach the reader
- D. Criticize the electoral process
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The passage aims to educate the reader about the Electoral College system and its functioning. It provides factual information about how the Electoral College operates, including the allocation of electoral votes based on a state's representation in Congress. There is no indication in the passage that the author's intention was to entertain, persuade, or criticize. By clarifying the purpose of the Electoral College and how it impacts presidential elections, the author is primarily focused on teaching the reader about this aspect of the political process.
Let's Go to the Circus
Everyone loves a circus! The bright lights, fanciful costumes, and fierce wild animals delight and entertain folks of all ages. The circus calls to the child in each one of us. Ernest Hemingway wrote that it "is the only ageless delight that you can buy for money..."
"Circus" is a magic word inspiring all sorts of exciting, colorful images. It's a theater of mind-boggling feats, elephants thundering around the rings, horses dancing, clowns cavorting and the sequins glittering under the lights.
There are historical references to animal displays and athletic competitions from the earliest days of civilization. The Romans were famous for their extravaganzas in the Coliseum. The shows we see today cannot compare to those great spectacles, but all who go to a circus enjoy the experience. It allows us all to be a child again and watch in awe as the athletes perform on the high wire or control the savage beasts in the center ring.
What sentiment does the author convey about the circus?
- A. Encourages avoiding the experience.
- B. Suggests attending a circus.
- C. States that only children can enjoy the experience.
- D. Believes the experience is too intense for children.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The author expresses a positive sentiment toward the circus, emphasizing its enchanting qualities and ability to captivate individuals of all ages. The text conveys a sense of admiration for the circus experience, as seen in phrases like 'Everyone loves a circus!' and 'It allows us all to be a child again.' These lines indicate the author's fondness for the circus and encourage others to partake in its enjoyable offerings.
A BIT ABOUT BICYCLES
Today, bicycles are so common that it's hard to believe they haven't always been around. But two hundred years ago, bicycles didn't even exist, and the first bicycle, invented in Germany in 1818, was nothing like our bicycles today. It was made of wood and didn't even have pedals. Since then, however, numerous innovations and improvements in design have made the bicycle one of the most popular means of recreation and transportation around the world. In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, dramatically improved upon the original bicycle design. Macmillan's machine had tires with iron rims to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated cranks like pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn't look much like a modern bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. In 1861, the French Michaux brothers took the evolution of the bicycle a step further by inventing an improved crank mechanism. Ten years later, James Starley, an English inventor, revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient, and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top heavy, and ridden mostly for entertainment. It wasn't until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. (14) Invented by another Englishman, H.J. Lawson, the "safety bicycle" would look familiar to today's cyclists. This bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it less prone to toppling over. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the rear wheel. With these improvements, the bicycle became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
After reading this article, the reader learned that:
- A. Bicycles have undergone significant changes over the years.
- B. Modern bicycles are used for recreation and transportation.
- C. Bicycling is gaining popularity worldwide.
- D. Bicycles have a long history and are not a recent invention.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Bicycling is gaining popularity all over the world.' The article discusses the historical evolution of bicycles, highlighting how they have undergone significant changes over the years, from their humble beginnings without pedals to the modern safety bicycles used for recreation and transportation. It emphasizes that bicycles are now one of the most popular means of recreation and transportation worldwide. Therefore, the reader learns that bicycling is gaining popularity globally, making option C the most accurate statement.
Health Care's Numbers Game: The game of health care is a risky one. Today emergency rooms are acting as primary care physicians for thousands of patients. This trend produces a vicious cycle of hospitals raising emergency room costs and passing that increase along to paying patients, who in turn pass it along to insurance companies, who in turn raise rates so even more people cannot afford the premium or the co-payment.
For years, indigent people have used emergency rooms for very minor illnesses rather than seeing an outside doctor, but now emergency rooms are seeing people with insurance, but who cannot afford the co-payment or the deductible for the office visit.
If we don't change the way the healthcare game is played, we're all going to lose.
According to the passage, why are insurance companies raising insurance rates?
- A. Hospitals are mismanaged and therefore are overspending their budgets.
- B. They need to make more money to stay competitive.
- C. Hospitals are passing down the costs of giving care to people without insurance.
- D. Doctors are demanding higher salaries.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Hospitals are passing down the costs of giving care to people without insurance. The passage clearly states that hospitals are raising emergency room costs due to acting as primary care physicians for thousands of patients, including those without insurance. This increase in costs is then passed along to paying patients, who further pass it on to insurance companies. This leads insurance companies to raise rates to compensate for the increased costs incurred due to providing care to individuals without insurance.
Incorrect choices:
A: Hospitals being mismanaged does not directly relate to insurance companies raising rates.
B: Insurance companies raising rates is not solely to make more money to stay competitive.
D: There is no mention of doctors demanding higher salaries as a reason for insurance companies raising rates.
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