HESI READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Passage 1: Blood Pressure Regulators
The body is composed of systems that have evolved and diversified to maintain
natural functions. One such system is the cardiovascular system. Three basic
components help regulate blood pressure: baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and
the kidneys. Baroreceptors are stretch receptors in the arterial walls.
Chemoreceptors monitor changes in oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH. The kidneys
regulate blood pressure by absorbing salts and water, which influences blood
volume.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A) Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring baroreceptors.
B) Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring chemoreceptors.
C) Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring the kidneys.
D) Blood pressure can be regulated through baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and
the kidneys.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage discusses three components that regulate blood pressure:
baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys .
2. What is the meaning of the word "evolved" in the first sentence?
A) To spread
B) To gradually develop
C) To revolve
D) To shift
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Evolved" in this context means to gradually develop over time .
3. According to the passage, what triggers chemoreceptors to send impulses?
A) Changes in blood volume
B) Changes in oxygen level, carbon dioxide, and pH
C) Stretching along arterial walls
D) Hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The passage states: "Chemoreceptors... monitor changes in oxygen
level, carbon dioxide, and pH" .
4. Which of the following is NOT a detail from the passage?
A) Baroreceptors are stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings.
B) Chemoreceptors monitor changes in oxygen level.
C) The kidneys play a role in regulating blood pressure by absorbing salts and
water.
D) Baroreceptors are located only in the kidneys.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Baroreceptors are located along the walls of the arteries, not in the
kidneys .
5. What happens when oxygen levels fall, according to the passage?
A) Blood pressure drops immediately.
B) Receptors send impulses to raise blood pressure.
C) The kidneys absorb more salt.
D) Baroreceptors stop sending impulses.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states: "A fall in oxygen causes receptors to send impulses
to raise the blood pressure" .
Passage 2: The Inflammatory Response
The inflammatory response is the body's immediate reaction to tissue injury or
infection. Within minutes of injury, blood vessels dilate and become more
permeable, allowing white blood cells to migrate to the affected area. This
process, while protective, can cause the classic signs of inflammation: redness,
heat, swelling, and pain.
6. According to the passage, what is the immediate cause of redness at an injury
site?
A) White blood cells attacking pathogens
B) Blood vessels dilating
C) Nerve endings becoming activated
D) Tissue releasing histamine
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states that blood vessels dilate, causing the classic signs of
inflammation .
7. Which of the following is NOT listed as a classic sign of inflammation?
A) Heat
B) Fever
C) Swelling
D) Pain
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fever is not mentioned as a classic sign of inflammation .
8. What happens to blood vessel permeability during inflammation?
A) It decreases to protect surrounding tissue.
B) It remains constant.
C) It increases to allow white blood cells to migrate.
D) It is unrelated to white blood cell movement.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage states that vessels become "more permeable, allowing
white blood cells to migrate" .
9. The passage describes the inflammatory response as:
A) Harmful to the body
B) Primarily a nervous system response
C) Protective but causing discomfort
D) A response only to infection, not injury
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage describes the response as "protective" but causing
discomfort and pain .
10. Based on the passage, how quickly does the inflammatory response begin?
A) Within seconds
B) Within minutes
C) Within hours
D) Within days
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage explicitly states: "Within minutes of injury" .
ANSWERS
Passage 1: Blood Pressure Regulators
The body is composed of systems that have evolved and diversified to maintain
natural functions. One such system is the cardiovascular system. Three basic
components help regulate blood pressure: baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and
the kidneys. Baroreceptors are stretch receptors in the arterial walls.
Chemoreceptors monitor changes in oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH. The kidneys
regulate blood pressure by absorbing salts and water, which influences blood
volume.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A) Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring baroreceptors.
B) Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring chemoreceptors.
C) Blood pressure can be treated only by monitoring the kidneys.
D) Blood pressure can be regulated through baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and
the kidneys.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage discusses three components that regulate blood pressure:
baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys .
2. What is the meaning of the word "evolved" in the first sentence?
A) To spread
B) To gradually develop
C) To revolve
D) To shift
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Evolved" in this context means to gradually develop over time .
3. According to the passage, what triggers chemoreceptors to send impulses?
A) Changes in blood volume
B) Changes in oxygen level, carbon dioxide, and pH
C) Stretching along arterial walls
D) Hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The passage states: "Chemoreceptors... monitor changes in oxygen
level, carbon dioxide, and pH" .
4. Which of the following is NOT a detail from the passage?
A) Baroreceptors are stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings.
B) Chemoreceptors monitor changes in oxygen level.
C) The kidneys play a role in regulating blood pressure by absorbing salts and
water.
D) Baroreceptors are located only in the kidneys.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Baroreceptors are located along the walls of the arteries, not in the
kidneys .
5. What happens when oxygen levels fall, according to the passage?
A) Blood pressure drops immediately.
B) Receptors send impulses to raise blood pressure.
C) The kidneys absorb more salt.
D) Baroreceptors stop sending impulses.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states: "A fall in oxygen causes receptors to send impulses
to raise the blood pressure" .
Passage 2: The Inflammatory Response
The inflammatory response is the body's immediate reaction to tissue injury or
infection. Within minutes of injury, blood vessels dilate and become more
permeable, allowing white blood cells to migrate to the affected area. This
process, while protective, can cause the classic signs of inflammation: redness,
heat, swelling, and pain.
6. According to the passage, what is the immediate cause of redness at an injury
site?
A) White blood cells attacking pathogens
B) Blood vessels dilating
C) Nerve endings becoming activated
D) Tissue releasing histamine
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states that blood vessels dilate, causing the classic signs of
inflammation .
7. Which of the following is NOT listed as a classic sign of inflammation?
A) Heat
B) Fever
C) Swelling
D) Pain
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fever is not mentioned as a classic sign of inflammation .
8. What happens to blood vessel permeability during inflammation?
A) It decreases to protect surrounding tissue.
B) It remains constant.
C) It increases to allow white blood cells to migrate.
D) It is unrelated to white blood cell movement.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage states that vessels become "more permeable, allowing
white blood cells to migrate" .
9. The passage describes the inflammatory response as:
A) Harmful to the body
B) Primarily a nervous system response
C) Protective but causing discomfort
D) A response only to infection, not injury
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage describes the response as "protective" but causing
discomfort and pain .
10. Based on the passage, how quickly does the inflammatory response begin?
A) Within seconds
B) Within minutes
C) Within hours
D) Within days
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage explicitly states: "Within minutes of injury" .
