Reading Comprehension HESI A2 Practice Test Related

Life Expectancy in the US:
Where would you expect the United States to rank in life expectancy, the average number of years a person is expected to live? Near the top in the world, right? Well, surprise—we rank number 31, after Costa Rica and right before Cuba. World Health Organization data from 2015 indicate that the average life expectancy worldwide is 71 years—slightly more for females and slightly less for males. In the United States, we beat that average by around eight years. Yet we are several years behind Japan, with a female life expectancy of 86.8 years, or Switzerland, with a male life expectancy of 81.3 years. Even relatively poor European countries, such as Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta, do better than we do.
There are a number of indicators that lead to our low score among wealthy nations. Those include obesity and its accompanying heart disease and diabetes, car crash deaths, gun violence, and embarrassingly high infant mortality rates. We eat more, drive more, have more guns, and allow poor women to go through pregnancies unattended by regular physicians. There are many other health indicators that separate us from other developed nations, but most correspond to the extreme wealth inequities in the United States.
It is too soon to tell whether an increase in insured Americans will help to turn this distasteful data around. Certainly those nations with universal health care have better numbers than we do. Much of our problem has to do with lifestyles that will not be easy to alter. We continue to build living spaces that are not walkable, to work long hours and drive long distances, to overeat—and we love our Second Amendment right to bear arms. It is difficult to imagine how we will overcome these realities and improve our longevity status.

A reader might infer from this passage that ___________.

• A. Obesity can be detrimental to a long life
• B. Car crashes are most frequent in the United States
• C. The Second Amendment should be overturned
• D. People in Asia and Africa have the shortest life spans

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.

Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the passage about microbes?

• A. Babies are born coated with germs from the birth canal.
• B. Mice and humans respond to microbes differently.
• C. Few people share the same microbes in the same quantities.
• D. Human bodies contain far more microbes than they do cells.

ACUPUNCTURE:
Over the years, acupuncture has become a more widely accepted type of alternative medicine. It is used for a wide variety of ailments, and if a recent study from Germany is valid, relieving menstrual pain can be added to the continuously growing list.
Traditionally nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the typical treatment for menstrual discomfort. However, as many consumers and physicians are aware, NSAIDs have a number of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, rash, dizziness, headache, and drowsiness. Acupuncture rarely has any kind of side effects other than the occasional stinging sensation when the needle is inserted or a deep ache around it after it is in place.
Acupuncture has proven helpful with relieving a number of kinds of pain, so researchers at Charité University Medical Center in Berlin wanted to find out how effective it might be in combating cramps and other menstrual discomforts. More than 200 women were enrolled in the study, and after three months and approximately 10 sessions, the women who were treated with acupuncture reported significantly less pain than those in the control group who received no treatment at all. They also reported a 33 percent improvement in their symptoms.
Because of these findings, the researchers came to the conclusion that “acupuncture should be considered as a viable option in the management of these patients.”

What conclusion is suggested by this study from Germany?

• A. So far, acupuncture does not have much credibility as a treatment option.
• B. Acupuncture can relieve women of all menstrual discomfort.
• C. NSAIDs are generally more effective than acupuncture for treating cramps.
• D. Acupuncture is a reasonable treatment choice for cramps.

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.

What is the author's attitude toward the use of cosmetics?

• A. Sympathetic
• B. Mocking
• C. Tolerant
• D. Disapproving

SLEEP:
Most people get a little grumpy when they do not get enough sleep, but for children, the issue may extend beyond mere irritability. Lack of sleep can affect their weight and overall behavior. A study conducted in New Zealand at the University of Auckland and published in the medical journal Sleep followed almost 600 children from infancy through seven years of age. Researchers observed the children�s sleep patterns and found that they generally slept less on weekends than during the week, and even less during the summer months.
According to the findings, children who slept the least were at a greater risk for being overweight and experiencing behavioral problems. Those who regularly slept less than nine hours a night were three times more likely to be obese and to show signs of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to those who slept more. These results were based on questionnaires completed by the children�s parents and teachers.
The connection between sleep and weight is still not fully understood, but experts suspect that chronic sleep deprivation may alter hormones involved in appetite control and metabolism. This is a connection that needs further exploration to be fully understood.
Experts recommend that preschoolers get 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night, while school-age children should get between 10 and 11 hours per night. However, many children average only 8 hours of sleep. The study concluded that adjusting sleep duration is a manageable risk factor that can help prevent future health problems for today�s young people.

Which of the following statements is an opinion?

• A. The connection between sleep and weight should be explored.
• B. Many young children average only eight hours of sleep a night.
• C. People who sleep less are more likely to be obese.
• D. Researchers in New Zealand studied almost 600 children.