HESI A2 Reading Comprehension Practice Test

HESI A2 Reading Comprehension Practice Test Related

Review HESI A2 Reading Comprehension Practice Test related questions and content

THE WHITE ELEPHANT:
Centuries ago, in the country of Siam, now known as Thailand, it was the custom of the rulers to punish those who displeased them by giving the offender a white elephant. Because the animal was considered sacred, it could not be made to work as other elephants did, but still had to be fed hundreds of pounds of fruit and cared for in the most lavish style. The recipient could not give the elephant to anyone else, as it was a gift from the ruler, who would be greatly displeased should the recipient not receive the gift graciously or care for it in a grand style. This monetary burden could be a major liability to the recipient, and in many cases, they became impoverished.
This is the origin of the term "white elephant," as it is used today to denote an unwanted gift. The popular way of gift exchange played during the holiday season is an offshoot of this tradition. In this game, everyone brings a gift, and the gifts are exchanged by drawing numbers and picking a gift in turn. The second person can choose a new gift or steal the first one. It is all in good fun, and people enjoy giving silly gifts and "stealing" someone else's.

Why was receiving a white elephant considered a burden in ancient Siam?

  • A. People tried to avoid receiving it, as it was a burden.
  • B. It was a symbol of honor and wealth.
  • C. It was used in ceremonial processes.
  • D. The people greatly desired a white elephant as a gift.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Receiving a white elephant in ancient Siam was considered a burden because the animal, being sacred, couldn't be used for work like other elephants. The recipient had to bear the cost of feeding the elephant large amounts of fruit and maintaining it in a lavish manner. The ruler's displeasure if the gift was not accepted graciously added to the pressure. This financial strain often led recipients to financial ruin. Therefore, people tried to avoid receiving a white elephant to prevent these financial consequences. Choice B is incorrect because the white elephant was not considered a symbol of honor and wealth but rather a burden. Choice C is incorrect as the white elephant was not primarily used in ceremonial processes but was a gift that came with financial responsibilities. Choice D is incorrect as the passage does not mention that people greatly desired a white elephant as a gift, but rather the opposite.

You may also like to solve these questions

GAME OF BRIDGE:
The ebb and flow of laughter and silence fills the room as four old friends gather to engage in a round of Bridge playing. For the beginner, Bridge can be complicated, but with time, effort, and a good teacher, even the novice can become proficient.
Composed of two main parts, bidding and playing, Bridge requires the player's undivided attention. The dealer deals the entire deck of playing cards evenly between the for players, with each person receiving thirteen cards. In the bidding portion of the game, the four suits of cards in the deck are ranked highest to lowest as follows: spades, hearts, diamonds, and finally clubs. However, during play all the suits of cards are considered equals, and they go from highest to lowest from the ace being high to the two card being low.
The highest number of tricks wins. A trick is one card played by each player for a total of four. After the lead player lays down his/her card, the other players follow suit, if possible. The highest card within the four "same suit" cards played wins the trick and picks up all four cards.
If a player cannot follow suit, he/she plays any card, but to make the game more interesting and challenging, one suit is named a trump suit which means that if a player plays a card from the trump suit, it always wins the trick. If two cards from the trump suit are played, the highest card within the trump suit wins the trick. obviously the team with the most tricks wins the hand.

What does the word 'suit' mean in the passage about Bridge?

  • A. A set of clothing to be worn together.
  • B. Any of the four sets into which a deck of cards is divided.
  • C. To request or appeal persistently.
  • D. To be convenient or right for.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Any of the four sets into which a deck of cards is divided.' In the context of card games like Bridge, 'suit' refers to one of the four divisions of a deck of cards - spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs. Each suit contains cards of different ranks, and during the game, players must follow suit if possible, meaning they must play a card of the same suit that was led. This is crucial for understanding card hierarchy and gameplay in Bridge. Choice A is incorrect because it defines 'suit' in terms of clothing, which is not relevant to the context of the passage. Choice C is incorrect as it defines 'suit' as a verb meaning to request persistently, which is unrelated to the card game. Choice D is also incorrect as it defines 'suit' as an adjective meaning to be convenient or right for, which is not the meaning intended in the passage about Bridge.

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.

What conclusion can be drawn from the passage on bicycles?

  • A. Bicycles have been evolving for centuries.
  • B. Bicycles have evolved significantly over time.
  • C. Bicycles have remained unchanged since their invention.
  • D. Bicycles are no longer a popular means of transportation.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct conclusion that can be drawn from the passage is that bicycles have evolved significantly over time. The passage discusses the evolution of bicycles from their early wooden, pedal-less designs to the modern safety bicycle with equal-sized wheels and chain-driven pedals. Each inventor mentioned in the passage contributed to significant improvements in bicycle design, making them more efficient and popular for transportation and recreation. Choice A is incorrect because the passage does not mention bicycles evolving continuously for centuries, but rather highlights specific innovations over time. Choice C is incorrect as the passage clearly describes the various improvements and changes made to bicycles since their invention. Choice D is also incorrect as the passage emphasizes the continued popularity and usefulness of bicycles for transportation all over the world.

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.

GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP:
Have you ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2:00 a.m.? Have you kicked the blankets off to the floor from burning? Many sufferers of insomnia know these situations all too well. As many as 17% of Americans find the restful break of sleep hard to achieve.
Lack of sleep affects intellectual abilities at work or school by causing a deficit in memory, attention, and concentration, which in turn creates a feeling of irritation or depression. Chronic insomnia can result from a medical illness, a psychiatric condition, or from sleep apnea, a condition where an individual actually stops breathing during sleep.
Sleep hygiene, developing good sleep habits, and non-pharmacological therapies such as herbs and spices are some solutions to insomnia. There is no need to live with insomnia, so contact a physician and get a good night's sleep!

Why did the author write this passage?

  • A. To explain insomnia and propose some solutions for the condition.
  • B. To encourage people to avoid sleep.
  • C. To criticize people who have sleep problems.
  • D. To promote the use of sleep medication.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The author wrote the passage to explain insomnia and suggest ways to deal with it. The passage provides information about insomnia, its impact on daily life, and offers solutions like sleep hygiene and non-pharmacological therapies. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as the passage does not encourage avoiding sleep, criticize people with sleep problems, or promote the use of sleep medication. Instead, it focuses on understanding and addressing insomnia.

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. 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.

What is the main reason the author wrote the passage about the Electoral College?

  • A. To criticize the complexity of the Electoral College.
  • B. To explain how the Electoral College works.
  • C. To advocate for abolishing the Electoral College.
  • D. To promote the benefits of the Electoral College.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. The passage primarily aims to explain how the Electoral College functions in U.S. elections. It provides details on how the Electoral College operates, including the allocation of electoral votes based on states' representation in Congress, the role of senators and representatives, and how electoral votes are cast during presidential elections. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the passage does not criticize, advocate for abolishing, or promote the benefits of the Electoral College. Instead, it focuses on clarifying its mechanism.

Copyright © 2025 Nokea. All rights reserved.