HESI A2 Reading Comprehension
Access The Exact Questions for HESI A2 Reading Comprehension
💯 100% Pass Rate guaranteed
🗓️ Unlock for 1 Month
Rated 4.8/5 from over 1000+ reviews
- Unlimited Exact Practice Test Questions
- Trusted By 200 Million Students and Professors
What’s Included:
- Unlock Actual Exam Questions and Answers for HESI A2 Reading Comprehension on monthly basis
- Well-structured questions covering all topics, accompanied by organized images.
- Learn from mistakes with detailed answer explanations.
- Easy To understand explanations for all students.
Free HESI A2 Reading Comprehension Questions
What body of water does The Golden Gate Bridge cross?
The Golden Gate Bridge
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 moved 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 balanced 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.
-
Marin Strait.
-
San Francisco Bay.
-
Pacific Ocean.
-
Golden Gate Strait.
Explanation
Correct Answer:
Golden Gate Strait.
Explanation:
The passage clearly states that the Golden Gate Bridge was built to cross the Golden Gate Strait, which is the narrow body of water connecting the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay.
Why Other Options are Wrong:
Marin Strait:
There is no such body of water mentioned in the passage. Marin is a county, not a strait.
San Francisco Bay:
While the bridge connects to the Bay, the passage explicitly says it crosses a strait, not the bay itself.
Pacific Ocean:
The strait connects to the Pacific Ocean, but the bridge does not span the Pacific—it spans the strait.
I have a major problem with Daylight Saving Time (DST). I really wish they would abolish the practice of changing the time on us every year. "Spring ahead, Fall back" should disappear from our language.
Although an early goal of DST was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting, formerly a primary use of electricity, modern heating and cooling usage patterns greatly differ, and research about how DST currently affects energy use is limited and often contradictory. The reason for the time shift has become irrelevant. DST's occasional clock shifts present other challenges. They complicate timekeeping and can disrupt meetings, travel, billing, record keeping, medical devices, and heavy equipment. Many computer-based systems can adjust their clocks automatically, but this can be limited and errorprone, particularly when DST rules change. I vote to abolish DST. Can I count on your vote?
To what word or phrase does the word "they" in the third paragraph refer?
- DST's.
- Challenges.
- Computer-based systems.
- Clock shifts.
Explanation
In the sentence “DST's occasional clock shifts present other challenges. They complicate timekeeping…,” the pronoun “they” refers back to “clock shifts,” the closest plural noun and the subject performing the action. The sentence explains that it is the clock shifts—not DST itself or the challenges—that complicate timekeeping, travel, billing, and more.
I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to "sparkle." The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.
What is the definition of "Brittle" as used in the second paragraph?
- Resilient.
- Easily broken.
- See-through.
- Flexible.
Explanation
In the context of describing glass as a “hard, brittle, transparent solid,” the word “brittle” refers to a material that breaks or shatters easily when struck or stressed. Glass does not bend or flex; instead, it fractures quickly, which matches the definition of “easily broken.”
The information presented is
Voice
What effect does your voice have on others? Does it persuade or irritate, attract or repel? One of the worst qualities is harshness. If you ever get the feeling that people are uncomfortable when you speak, it may be that your harsh tones are jarring their eardrums. Your voice will sound unpleasant if it is shrill, grating, hard, piercing, brassy, too loud, or too nasal. Harsh voice qualities usually come from too much tension in the throat and jaw. Tension tightens muscles and blocks the relaxed voice tones essential to a pleasing impression. Because tension occurs in higher pitched voices, women tend to have shriller voices than men, which usually makes them less desirable public speakers, newscasters, or political candidates.
-
Slanted against people with deep voices.
-
Slanted against people with piercing voices.
-
Balanced in its approach.
-
Slanted in favor of newscasters.
Explanation
Correct Answer:
Slanted against people with piercing voices.
Explanation:
The passage criticizes vocal qualities such as “piercing,” “shrill,” “grating,” and “too nasal.” These descriptors paint such voices in a negative light, showing a clear bias.
Why Other Options are Wrong:
Slanted against people with deep voices:
Deep voices are not criticized. In fact, deeper, relaxed tones are implied to be preferable.
Balanced in its approach:
The passage focuses primarily on harsh, high-pitched, or tense voices and doesn’t offer an equally neutral or positive discussion of all vocal types.
Slanted in favor of newscasters:
Newscasters are mentioned, but not praised. The focus is on how certain vocal qualities might make someone less suited for such roles.
What is the main reason that athletes want to participate in the Olympics?
The Summer Olympic Games
Once every four years the countries of the world send their best and brightest to participate in the Summer Olympic Games. The site for the event is decided years before, and most countries contend strongly for the privilege to host the Games. The 2008 games were held in Beijing, China.
There is a lot of pageantry and tradition attached to the event. The opening ceremony is elaborate and awe-inspiring. China put on a spectacularly beautiful fireworks display to welcome the world’s athletes in 2008.
The track events, water events (swimming, diving), and precision activities such as archery and rhythmic gymnastics are wonderful to watch. Seeing these athletes perform their special skills is a treat for those of us who achieve a vicarious satisfaction from it. Everyone roots for the athletes from their own country and we thrill when our anthem is played during the medal ceremony. Being an Olympian is an honor every athlete dreams of.
-
They get a sizable stipend for their performance.
-
They have a patriotic pride in their performance.
-
Travel to foreign countries.
-
They can win a scholarship for future education.
Explanation
Correct Answer:
They have a patriotic pride in their performance.
Explanation:
The passage emphasizes that athletes are honored to represent their countries and that “being an Olympian is an honor every athlete dreams of.” It also states that “everyone roots for the athletes from their own country,” suggesting a strong sense of national pride. This makes it clear that athletes are largely motivated by patriotic feelings and a desire to bring pride to their country.
Why Other Options are Wrong:
They get a sizable stipend for their performance:
The passage does not mention any monetary reward or stipend as a motivation. In fact, the tone focuses on tradition, honor, and pride rather than financial gain.
Travel to foreign countries:
While athletes do travel, the text does not imply that this is the main reason they participate. The emphasis is instead on representing their country and the honor of competing.
They can win a scholarship for future education:
There is no mention in the passage of scholarships or educational benefits tied to participation in the Olympics.
Water is needed to sustain practically all of life functions on planet Earth. A single drop of this compound is comprised of an oxygen atom which shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms. The cycle starts when precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet or hail descends from the sky onto the ground. Water not absorbed immediately from the precipitation is known as runoff. The runoff flows across the land and collects in ground water reservoirs, rivers, streams and the ocean. Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas. Water vapor returns to the air from surface water and plants. Ultimately, condensation happens when this water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of liquid. In fact, the puffy, cotton clouds that we observe are formed by condensation. When the clouds become so heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation then ensues.
Which sentence uses the word laden the same as in the passage?
-
As the rain continued, the water trickled down the empty, laden street.
-
When the storm cleared, you could see the cloudless, laden sky.
-
The laden trumpets sounded when the stadium became crowded with fans.
-
The bowl of cereal overflowed when it became too laden with milk.
Explanation
Correct Answer: D. The bowl of cereal overflowed when it became too laden with milk.
Detailed Explanation of the Correct Answer:
In the passage, the word laden is used in the sentence:
“When the clouds become so heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation then ensues.”
Here, laden means heavily filled or weighed down with something—in this case, water droplets.
D. The bowl of cereal overflowed when it became too laden with milk uses laden in the same way, meaning the bowl was filled or weighed down with milk, leading to an overflow. This directly mirrors the context in which clouds become too full of water, leading to precipitation.
Explanation of Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. The empty, laden street – This is contradictory; a street cannot be both empty and laden, and the use of laden here is unclear or incorrect.
B. The cloudless, laden sky – Again, this is contradictory. A sky can't be laden and cloudless at the same time, and the word doesn't clearly refer to being filled or weighed down.
C. The laden trumpets sounded – Laden is not typically used to describe the sound or action of trumpets. This usage is metaphorical or unclear and does not match the passage's meaning.
I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found the glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to "sparkle." The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.
What statement is a fact stated in the article?
- Glass is an element that can be mixed with other elements.
- Glass is found in nature in the form of obsidian.
- Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements.
- Glass with lead is the most common type produced today.
Explanation
The article clearly states this exact fact in the second paragraph: “Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements.” It goes on to explain that glass is made mainly of silica with additives like soda, lime, lead, and boron.
Children begin to taste freedom on bicycles. Historians believe that bicycles began around 3500 B.C. in the Middle East although it took 53 centuries before bicycles were fashioned in the way we know them today.
With over 1500 moving parts, bicycles are complex yet simple machines and amazingly the basic design has not changed since the 1880s. A few tweaks have been added, such as gears and hand-operated brakes, but bicycles remain a steady source of exercise and entertainment for both children and adults. Some forms of bicycling are mountain biking and BMX biking which is similar to cross-country motorcycle racing.
About how long did it take for bicycles to look and feel like they do today?
- 5,300 years.
- 100 years.
- 3,500 years.
- 53 years.
Explanation
The passage states that bicycles began around 3500 B.C. and that it took 53 centuries before bicycles were fashioned into the form we recognize today. One century is 100 years, so 53 centuries equals 5,300 years.
The author’s reason for writing this piece seems to be to
The Golden Gate Bridge
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 moved 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 balanced 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.
-
Inform the reader.
-
Entertain the reader.
-
Teach the reader.
-
Persuade the reader.
Explanation
Correct Answer:
Inform the reader.
Explanation:
The passage presents historical facts and details about the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, including the timeline, people involved, engineering processes, and its long-term impact. The tone is factual and informative rather than persuasive or entertaining.
Why Other Options are Wrong:
Entertain the reader:
There’s no humor, plot, or emotional storytelling here. The piece is designed to convey facts, not entertain.
Teach the reader:
While informative, the piece is not instructional or educational in a step-by-step manner. It doesn’t aim to teach how to build a bridge or give technical lessons.
Persuade the reader:
The author is not trying to convince readers to build a bridge or take action. The tone is neutral and informative.
English is a vibrant, changing, dynamic language. It allows people to express their thoughts in diverse ways, as there are many synonyms and antonyms to choose from. The hardest part for the English speaker - or those learning English as a second language - is learning about homonyms. These are words that sound alike but are spelled different ways, with different meanings.
One example is "One". This word, spelled "one" means the numeral 1, an amount. If spelled "won," it means to be victorious. No wonder spelling is a difficult skill to master! Other homonyms encountered by the beginning English speaker are "to, two, too," "four, for, fore," "there, their, they're" and "son, sun" to name just a few. This is one reason that "Spell check" programs on word processing computers cannot be completely accurate, because the way a word is spelled depends on the context of the sentence. Proofreaders will always be in demand.
What inference can be drawn from the article?
- English should be learned by all people.
- English is a difficult language to master.
- Spelling is an easy skill to learn.
- "Spell check" should be used by all computer users.
Explanation
The passage highlights the challenges of English, especially homonyms—words that sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning. It explains that these words make spelling difficult even for native speakers and that computer spell checkers are not always reliable. All of this supports the inference that mastering English, particularly spelling, is difficult.
How to Order
Select Your Exam
Click on your desired exam to open its dedicated page with resources like practice questions, flashcards, and study guides.Choose what to focus on, Your selected exam is saved for quick access Once you log in.
Subscribe
Hit the Subscribe button on the platform. With your subscription, you will enjoy unlimited access to all practice questions and resources for a full 1-month period. After the month has elapsed, you can choose to resubscribe to continue benefiting from our comprehensive exam preparation tools and resources.
Pay and unlock the practice Questions
Once your payment is processed, you’ll immediately unlock access to all practice questions tailored to your selected exam for 1 month .