Reading Comprehension HESI A2 Practice Test Related

THE FOOD PYRAMID:
The food pyramid is a visual representation of how the different food groups can be combined to form a healthy diet. Although it was a vital part of dietary guidelines for years before being replaced by the �MyPlate� model, the pyramid was constantly analyzed and revised as additional study was done in nutritional fields. A few years ago, the pyramid underwent a change regarding the unique dietary needs of seniors.
Modifications in the pyramid for older adults included an emphasis on fiber and calcium, as well as on vitamins D and B12. By incorporating these changes, the pyramid indicated that the nutrients found in a person�s routine daily consumption typically are not enough for seniors. Seniors need supplementation. As people age, they tend to move less and thus need fewer calories to maintain their weight. Because seniors tend to eat a more limited amount, dietitians urge them to choose wisely. They are encouraged to eat nutrient-rich meals featuring such foods as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and high-fiber whole grains.
The revised pyramid also focused on the importance for older people of ingesting adequate amounts of fluids daily. This helps to ensure proper digestion and prevent dehydration. Finally, the revised pyramid included information on incorporating exercise and other physical activities into the lives of older adults. Suggestions included swimming, walking, or simple yard work. With recent reports indicating that obesity levels for people older than 70 years of age are climbing, performing some type of regular exercise is more essential than ever.

Which of the following is not mentioned as being important for seniors?

• A. Vitamin B12
• B. Calcium
• C. Nitrates
• D. Exercise

MICROBES IN HUMAN HEALTH:
There are 10 times more microbes than human cells in the human body. Scientists have long known that the human body hosts a staggering number of microorganisms. Recent discoveries, however, are shedding light on how pivotal these bacteria are in the development of the human immune system. The body supports a wide array of microorganisms specially adapted to survive in particular regions. Remarkably, there is such variation in these microorganisms that few people share the same strains in the same quantities.
The colonization of microbes begins at birth. A newborn infant, emerging from the germ-free environment of the womb, is immediately exposed to germs from its mother's birth canal. These bacteria swiftly begin to breed and colonize the infant's body, which becomes their new host. The most fascinating discovery is not just that the immune system tolerates these millions of harmless organisms, but that it may actually rely on their presence to function properly.
For example, laboratory mice unable to produce a specific inflammation-reducing molecule were injected with a particular strain of bacteria. After the bacteria colonized, the mice's immune systems developed the ability to synthesize the molecule. Essentially, the mice needed the bacteria for their immune systems to function correctly.
This concept is also being applied to humans through a relatively experimental procedure known as fecal bacteriotherapy. This treatment reintroduces healthy bacteria into a colon that has lost its ability to defend against pathogens. While scientists are only beginning to understand the critical role these microorganisms play in human health, early research has yielded remarkable discoveries.

What is the main idea of the passage about microbes?

• A. Recent discoveries are revealing the critical role of microorganisms in maintaining a properly functioning immune system.
• B. The human body is host to a staggering number of microorganisms.
• C. Bacteriotherapy reintroduces healthy bacteria into a colon lacking the capability to defend against pathogenic agents.
• D. Early research has shown remarkable discoveries in the possibilities of bacteriotherapy.

Modern PE Classes:
In some schools around the country, physical education classes look a lot different than they did a generation or two ago. Kids are still in motion, stretching, running, lifting, and sweating. But instead of everyone doing the same activity at the same time as a team, they are exercising independently. They are being taught movements and activities that their teachers hope they will incorporate into their lives rather than just perform long enough to get a good grade.
By teaching kids the pleasure of exercise, gym teachers hope to instill important lessons about maintaining good health, staying fit, and keeping weight under control. Students can also participate in low-impact sports like yoga, martial arts, and weight lifting. Instead of playing basketball or baseball, they can focus on more general skills like passing the ball.
A growing number of physical education (PE) teachers are also putting more of an emphasis on general nutrition and health. With the continual increase in the number of children who are obese, there is greater pressure to teach students how to stay fit. To do this, gym teachers have to look at new ways to introduce exercise to their students that will not intimidate or overwhelm them but instead intrigue and engage them.
One other difference found in some modern gym classes is the grading system. Instead of being graded on their ability to run laps in a set time or make a certain number of baskets, the students are graded simply on the effort they make in the class. Some even get extra credit if they are the sweatiest students in the room!

What would be the best title for this passage?

• A. Being a Team in PE
• B. A New Kind of Grade
• C. Learning Martial Arts
• D. PE for School and Life

Coffee Consumption During Pregnancy:
The health risks of coffee have long been debated, but a recent study has added another argument against too much coffee consumption. This study looked at the effect of drinking coffee on pregnant women. Conducted by physicians at Kaiser Permanente, the study explored the connection between caffeine and the risk of miscarriage.
This study followed more than 1,000 women who became pregnant within a two-year period. The amount of caffeine they drank was logged, as well as which women experienced a miscarriage. The results, as published in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, stated that the risk of miscarriage more than doubled in women who consumed 200 mg or more of caffeine per day—about what is found in two cups of coffee.
Why does caffeine carry this risk? Researchers are not sure, but they theorize that the caffeine restricts blood flow to the placenta. This, in turn, can harm the developing fetus.
Does this mean the physicians will start advising women to quit drinking coffee while pregnant? Yes and no. Some doctors will certainly take this report to heart and encourage their patients to stay away from more than one cup of coffee a day, just as they recommend not drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes. Others are not so convinced and doubt that this single study is enough to overturn the established guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Instead, they believe that a lot more research needs to be done.

Based on this passage, what can the reader infer about the advice physicians will give their pregnant patients about coffee consumption?

• A. Almost all of them will advise women to stop drinking any caffeine until after the baby is born.
• B. The majority will ignore the study altogether and continue to advise caffeine in moderation as before.
• C. All of them will demand additional research be done before they change what they tell their patients.
• D. Some will continue to make their normal recommendations about caffeine, while others will be more cautious than before.

BEAUTY THE BEAST:
In recent years, there have been frightening headlines about harmful ingredients such as mercury and lead in ordinary cosmetics. However, these are hardly the first examples of people paying a heavy price to conform to cultural ideals of beauty. This tradition has been around for centuries.
Ancient Egyptians decorated their eyes with malachite (a green ore of copper), galena (a lead sulfide), and kohl (a paste made from soot, fat, and metals such as lead). While these cosmetics may have enhanced their appearance, they also led to health problems such as insomnia and mental confusion.
The ancient Greeks took these practices even further. They applied lead to their entire faces to clear their complexions and improve skin coloration. This practice resulted in health issues ranging from infertility to insanity. The lead ointment whitened their faces�a sign of beauty�while red lead was added to the cheeks for a rosy glow. To make matters worse, they also used hair dyes containing lead.
The Romans adopted these toxic beauty practices, and some historians suspect that lead poisoning contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire. As recently as 2007, lipsticks and mascaras were found to contain lead and mercury. Additionally, phthalates�industrial chemicals that can cause birth defects and infertility�are present in personal care products such as shampoos, lotions, perfumes, and deodorants.
An old saying states that beauty has a price, and sometimes that price may be much higher than consumers realize. It is important to be aware of what you are putting on your face.

The author describes cosmetics in each of the following cultures EXCEPT ___________.

• A. Greek
• B. Egyptian
• C. Roman
• D. Native American