GNIDAER • 2A ISEH
✦HESI✦
Health Education Systems, Inc.
A2 HESI Admission Assessment · Reading Comprehension
P R E P A R I N G H E A LT H C A R E P R O F E S S I O N A L S F O R S U C C E S S
HEALTH ED
HESI A2 — Reading Comprehension
M A I N I D E A · S U P P O RT I N G D E TA I LS · V O C A B U L A R Y · W O R D R O OTS · P R E F I X E S · T E XT ST R U C T U R E
ORGANIZATION Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) EXAM TYPE HESI A2 Admission Assessment
ACADEMIC YEAR TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions
SUBJECT AREAS Reading Strategies · Vocabulary · Word FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Parts · Text Analysis Answer
READING COMPREHENSION EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on HESI A2 reading comprehension concepts.
▸ Content covers: reading strategies (main idea, topic, theme, supporting details), types of writing (narrative, expository,
technical, persuasive), text structures (problem-solution, comparison-contrast, cause-effect, descriptive), vocabulary (context
clues, denotation/connotation, figurative language), and word parts (roots, prefixes, suffixes).
▸ Key strategies: read answers first, use process of elimination, distinguish fact from opinion, identify topic sentences and
summary sentences.
SECTION I — READING CONCEPTS, VOCABULARY & WORD ANALYSIS Questions 1 – 25
1. What is the main idea of a passage?
A. The person, place, thing, or issue being discussed — the topic.
B. The purpose behind why a writer would choose to write — what the author is asserting about a specific issue.
C. The idea or concept the author refers back to frequently — the theme.
D. A single detail that supports the author's argument.
CORRECT ANSWER B — The purpose behind why a writer would choose to write — what the author is asserting about a
specific issue.
RATIONALE The MAIN IDEA is the purpose behind the writing — what the author is ASSERTING about a specific issue. The
TOPIC is the person, place, thing, or issue. The THEME is the idea or concept the author refers back to
frequently. Major indicators of the main idea: it is a GENERAL idea applying to more specific ideas in the
passage, and it ASSERTS a specific viewpoint the author supports ("takes a stand"). The TOPIC SENTENCE
introduces the main idea. The SUMMARY SENTENCE restates the main idea at the end.
, 2. What is an implied main idea?
A. The main idea stated explicitly in the topic sentence.
B. A main idea not explicitly stated — determined by analyzing word choice, tone, and content.
C. The summary sentence at the end of the passage.
D. A supporting detail that provides evidence.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A main idea not explicitly stated — determined by analyzing word choice, tone, and content.
RATIONALE An IMPLIED MAIN IDEA is NOT explicitly stated in the passage. To determine it, examine the author's WORD
CHOICE, TONE, and CONTENT. Supporting details provide support for the main idea. Signal words for
supporting details include: for example, specifically, in addition, furthermore, for instance, others, in
particular, some. A FACT can be proven true; an OPINION is an assumption not based in fact.
3. What type of writing tells a story, such as a novel, short story, or play?
A. Expository writing — informs people (newspaper articles).
B. Narrative writing — tells a story.
C. Technical writing — explains something (product manuals).
D. Persuasive writing — tries to convince the reader.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Narrative writing — tells a story.
RATIONALE NARRATIVE writing tells a story (novel, short story, play). EXPOSITORY writing informs people
(newspaper/magazine articles). TECHNICAL writing explains something (product manual, directions).
PERSUASIVE writing tries to convince the reader (opinion column). A PRIMARY SOURCE is an unaltered piece
of writing composed during the time events took place. A SECONDARY SOURCE addresses the same topic but
provides extra commentary or analysis.
4. Which text structure presents an action and then discusses the resulting effects?
A. Problem-solution — presents a problem and discusses a solution.
B. Comparison-contrast — presents two situations and discusses similarities/differences.
C. Cause-effect — presents an action and discusses the resulting effects.
D. Descriptive — describes an idea, object, person, or item in detail.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Cause-effect — presents an action and discusses the resulting effects.
RATIONALE CAUSE-EFFECT structure presents an action and then discusses the resulting effects. PROBLEM-SOLUTION
presents a problem and discusses a solution. COMPARISON-CONTRAST presents two situations and discusses
similarities and differences. DESCRIPTIVE describes an idea, object, person, or item in detail. Text structures
use logical relationships between ideas to improve readability and coherence. "About the author" questions
ask about attitudes, thoughts, and opinions conveyed through context clues.
✦HESI✦
Health Education Systems, Inc.
A2 HESI Admission Assessment · Reading Comprehension
P R E P A R I N G H E A LT H C A R E P R O F E S S I O N A L S F O R S U C C E S S
HEALTH ED
HESI A2 — Reading Comprehension
M A I N I D E A · S U P P O RT I N G D E TA I LS · V O C A B U L A R Y · W O R D R O OTS · P R E F I X E S · T E XT ST R U C T U R E
ORGANIZATION Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) EXAM TYPE HESI A2 Admission Assessment
ACADEMIC YEAR TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions
SUBJECT AREAS Reading Strategies · Vocabulary · Word FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Parts · Text Analysis Answer
READING COMPREHENSION EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on HESI A2 reading comprehension concepts.
▸ Content covers: reading strategies (main idea, topic, theme, supporting details), types of writing (narrative, expository,
technical, persuasive), text structures (problem-solution, comparison-contrast, cause-effect, descriptive), vocabulary (context
clues, denotation/connotation, figurative language), and word parts (roots, prefixes, suffixes).
▸ Key strategies: read answers first, use process of elimination, distinguish fact from opinion, identify topic sentences and
summary sentences.
SECTION I — READING CONCEPTS, VOCABULARY & WORD ANALYSIS Questions 1 – 25
1. What is the main idea of a passage?
A. The person, place, thing, or issue being discussed — the topic.
B. The purpose behind why a writer would choose to write — what the author is asserting about a specific issue.
C. The idea or concept the author refers back to frequently — the theme.
D. A single detail that supports the author's argument.
CORRECT ANSWER B — The purpose behind why a writer would choose to write — what the author is asserting about a
specific issue.
RATIONALE The MAIN IDEA is the purpose behind the writing — what the author is ASSERTING about a specific issue. The
TOPIC is the person, place, thing, or issue. The THEME is the idea or concept the author refers back to
frequently. Major indicators of the main idea: it is a GENERAL idea applying to more specific ideas in the
passage, and it ASSERTS a specific viewpoint the author supports ("takes a stand"). The TOPIC SENTENCE
introduces the main idea. The SUMMARY SENTENCE restates the main idea at the end.
, 2. What is an implied main idea?
A. The main idea stated explicitly in the topic sentence.
B. A main idea not explicitly stated — determined by analyzing word choice, tone, and content.
C. The summary sentence at the end of the passage.
D. A supporting detail that provides evidence.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A main idea not explicitly stated — determined by analyzing word choice, tone, and content.
RATIONALE An IMPLIED MAIN IDEA is NOT explicitly stated in the passage. To determine it, examine the author's WORD
CHOICE, TONE, and CONTENT. Supporting details provide support for the main idea. Signal words for
supporting details include: for example, specifically, in addition, furthermore, for instance, others, in
particular, some. A FACT can be proven true; an OPINION is an assumption not based in fact.
3. What type of writing tells a story, such as a novel, short story, or play?
A. Expository writing — informs people (newspaper articles).
B. Narrative writing — tells a story.
C. Technical writing — explains something (product manuals).
D. Persuasive writing — tries to convince the reader.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Narrative writing — tells a story.
RATIONALE NARRATIVE writing tells a story (novel, short story, play). EXPOSITORY writing informs people
(newspaper/magazine articles). TECHNICAL writing explains something (product manual, directions).
PERSUASIVE writing tries to convince the reader (opinion column). A PRIMARY SOURCE is an unaltered piece
of writing composed during the time events took place. A SECONDARY SOURCE addresses the same topic but
provides extra commentary or analysis.
4. Which text structure presents an action and then discusses the resulting effects?
A. Problem-solution — presents a problem and discusses a solution.
B. Comparison-contrast — presents two situations and discusses similarities/differences.
C. Cause-effect — presents an action and discusses the resulting effects.
D. Descriptive — describes an idea, object, person, or item in detail.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Cause-effect — presents an action and discusses the resulting effects.
RATIONALE CAUSE-EFFECT structure presents an action and then discusses the resulting effects. PROBLEM-SOLUTION
presents a problem and discusses a solution. COMPARISON-CONTRAST presents two situations and discusses
similarities and differences. DESCRIPTIVE describes an idea, object, person, or item in detail. Text structures
use logical relationships between ideas to improve readability and coherence. "About the author" questions
ask about attitudes, thoughts, and opinions conveyed through context clues.
