HESI_A2_Vocabulary_Study_Guide BOOK

  Vocabulary: How to Solve the Puzzle! Fill in the blank vocabulary questions are like puzzles with one key piece missing. In puzzles, the surrounding area that is already complete is filled with clues that lead you to the piece that fits perfectly. Like in puzzles, the sentence surrounding the blank space in a fill in the blank question is filled with context clues to what that missing word might be. The key is to study the sentence and look for those clues that will help you solve the puzzle! Here are a few steps to help you with these types of test questions. Read the sentence carefully and search for context clues within the sentence. Remember, you are solving a puzzle, so use the part of the puzzle that is already complete to help you find the missing piece. Here is where context clues come into play! Looking up the definitions of words included in the sentence can be very helpful as you determine what word completes the statement. You should also consider how prefixes and suffixes can modify the meanings of words. Other types of context clues: • Synonym: a word or group of words that has the same meaning as the missing word • Antonym: a word or group of words that has the opposite meaning as the missing word • Explanation: the missing word is explained within the sentence • Example: there are specific examples in the sentence that help define the missing word Read your answer choices carefully. Define each term as best you can. Use a dictionary if needed and, again, consider any prefixes and suffixes in your word choices. Once you have found the correct word, put that missing piece into the puzzle to see if it fits. Take a moment and reread the sentence with your answer choice to assure that it makes sense. It should fit the tense, part of speech, and number required by the sentence. Now let’s solve one of these puzzles together! Example: My mom said it was pouring outside, but it was actually just a light drizzle— she loves to . a. persecute b. exaggerate c. endure d. mimic First, let’s read the sentence carefully and identify context clues. The first part of the sentence states that the narrator’s mom has said it is pouring outside, but it is actually only drizzling lightly. In other words, the narrator is telling us this his mom is saying the rain is greater than what it actually is. Study the area around the blank space, as well. In this sentence, we are looking for a word that describes what the narrator’s mom loves to do. The word we are looking for has already been explained, it is a word that means saying something is greater than what it actually is. Next, let’s look at the answer choices. Read each answer choice and define them as best you can. For this example, we have provided you with the following definitions: a. persecute: to treat someone cruelly or unfairly based on their race, political or religious beliefs; to harass or annoy b. exaggerate: to present something as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it really is c. endure: to suffer through something painful or difficult patiently; to remain in existence d. mimic: to imitate someone’s actions or words, typically in order to entertain or ridicule. When you feel confident that you understand the context of the sentence, you could also attempt to fill the sentence with your own word, perhaps “lie” or “embellish”, in this case, and determine which of the word choices fits as a synonym. In these answer choices, only “exaggerate” fits the sentence to describe what the narrator’s mom loves to do, according to the contextual information we have been given. Lastly, let’s put the missing piece into the puzzle to see if it fits! Reread the sentence and enter your word choice into the blank space. My mom said it was pouring outside, but it was actually just a light drizzle—she loves to exaggerate. It fits! Vocabulary Practice Worksheets / Activities Word List with Definitions: 1. Adapt (verb) to change so as to fit a new or specific use or situation 2. Adhere (v.) to stay loyal to; to stick by or to as though by glue, suction, grasping, etc. 3. Anxious (adjective) fearful or worried about possible events 4. Beneficial (adj.) producing results that are good for health and happiness 5. Burden (noun) something taken as a duty or responsibility 6. Capacity (n.) the ability to hold or contain 7. Courteous (adj.) marked by respect for and consideration of others 8. Deprive (v.) to take something away from 9. Duplicate (n.) a thing that is exactly like another 10. Escalate (v.) to increase in extent, volume, or scope 11. Exult (v.) to be very joyful 12. Futile (adj.) having no result or effect 13. Generate (v.) to bring into existence 14. Hazardous (adj.) dangerous or risky 15. Hostile (adj.) showing open resistance or opposition 16. Immense (adj.) very great in size or amount; especially : not capable of being measured by ordinary means 17. Innovation (n.) the introduction of something new 18. Negotiate (v.) to have a discussion with another so as to arrive at an agreement 19. Obsolete (adj.) no longer in use 20. Priority (n.) the quality or state of coming before another in time or importance 21. Revert (v.) to come or go back 22. Sever (v.) to divide, put, or keep apart 23. Sparse (adj.) of few and scattered elements; especially : not thickly grown or settled 24. Tangible (adj.) capable of being touched, understood, or appreciated 25. Vivid (adj.) very strong or bright Synonyms Select the word from the list above with the same meaning as the given word. 1. Hateful 2. Task 3. Apprehensive 4. Debate 5. Split 6. Copy 7. Glowing 8. Out-of-date 9. Intensify 10. Rejoice Antonyms Select the word from the list above with opposite meaning of the given word. 11. Destroy 12. Tradition 13. Disobey 14. Plentiful 15. Unreal 16. Limited 17. Harmful 18. Reject 19. Develop 20. Stable Analogies Select the word from the list above that best completes the analogy, creating a relationship that matches the relationship from the first set of words provided. 21. passengers : plane :: : bucket 22. deny : diet :: : grounded 23. current : iphone :: : beeper 24. viewable : sight : : touch 25. destroy : wreckage :: : creation 26. barter : trade :: : deal 27. dull : colorless :: : colorful 28. plan : result :: : success 29. constructive : peace :: : war 30. rude : unwelcoming :: : hospitable Word Meaning Select the word from the list above that best completes each of the following sentences. 31. The stress his heart was under caused him to experience heart attack last year. 32. Although you still might use them at home, oral thermometers have become in most doctors’ offices. 33. Spending less time tanning by the pool would be for the health of his skin. 34. The development of the EpiPen was an important for people with serious allergies. 35. You may have to to using your left hand for most activities until your bones have reset and the cast on your right arm can be removed. 36. She was very about her surgery, but the doctor assured her that her recovery time would be short. 37. It was very of the nurse to let me know that the stethoscope might feel shockingly cold before touching it to my back. 38. Joining the cross-country is really helping to increase my lung . 39. The amount of pepperoni on the pizza was much too _ , in my opinion—pepperoni is my favorite topping! 40. Please note that all used hypodermic needles should be disposed of in the box marked “ Waste Disposal.” 41. Emergency responders are trained to keep patients and witnesses calm so that the commotion of situation does not further. 42. It feels pretty to brush my teeth sometimes—no matter how often I brush, I still end up with cavities when I go to the dentist’s office! 43. By making regular exercise a , you will greatly improve your cardiovascular health. 44. If you don’t to the instructions your doctor gave you, the treatment won’t be effective. 45. Ever since I broke my leg, I feel like such a to my mom. I can’t wait to be able to get up and do things for myself! 46. Moving to another town will mean ties with my doctor. I don’t know how I’ll replace him—he’s been my primary care physician for over ten years! 47. I’m sorry if I seem . It’s not personal, I just really don’t like having my teeth cleaned. 48. We’ve several X-rays of your lungs, and we’re seeing some suspicious dark spots that we’d like to investigate further. 49. After you complete your nutrition program, it’s important that you don’t back to your previous snacking habits. 50. We all in the news that the treatment had been successful and Grandma’s cancer was in remission. 51. Scanning electron microscopes can take detailed, , colorful images of the microscopic world. Context Clues Using the other words as clues, circle the letter of the word that most closely matches the underlined word in the sentence. 1. The medication makes me feel a bit sluggish. Can we replace it with something that won’t impact my ability to work and stay active? a. tired b. alert c. hungry d. uncomfortable 2. I have been coping with increasingly severe back pain for the past few years. Is there something else I can be doing to alleviate the pain? I don’t know how much more I can take! a. dispensing b. comparing c. suffering d. angry 3. I know that you are very reluctant to have the surgery, but I promise the recovery time won’t be as bad as you anticipate and the long-term results will be well worth any pain you experience over the next few weeks. a. confident b. willing c. afraid d. competent 4. Your symptoms may have mimicked that of a heat attack, but actually you were experiencing a panic attack. They can appear very similar at first, but your test show that it was definitely not a heart attack. a. imitated b. prevented c. affirmed d. delivered 5. The physical therapy exercises may feel monotonous, but repetitive motion can actually contribute to your recovery in a significant way. a. eventful b. unimportant c. gratifying d. tedious 6. Remember that you must remain perfectly stationary while you have an MRI; otherwise, we’ll have to do it again so the image comes out clearly. a. elevated b. mobile c. motionless d. flexed 7. The tempo of your heartbeat is a bit off. We’d like to conduct some additional tests to confirm that it’s rhythm not a result of a serious heart murmur. a. rate b. health c. strength d. ability 8. We’ve compiled the results of your tests and determined that the two conditions you have been complaining of are not related. a. dismissed b. discharged c. gathered d. garnered 9. Sorry, I would give you a hug, but I’ve been battling a lingering cold for the past few weeks. I wish it would just go away already! a. remaining b. fleeting c. terrible d. slight Antonyms as Context Clues Using the antonym in blue, circle the letter of the word that most closely matches the underlined word in the sentence. 1. She was about to undergo controversial surgery against the wishes of her family, though the doctor assured them that the experimental procedure could produce very positive results. They wanted her to have a more tried-and-true treatment. a. disputed b. tested c. difficult d. easy 2. At first my symptoms seemed very clear-cut and explainable, but now my doctor says they’re presenting a bit of an enigma; he’ll have to administer a few more tests. a. conundrum b. obvious c. specific d. oblivious 3. Fortunately, the cancer was not as aggressive as we feared. Although there is still a long road ahead of us, we can feel much more calm about her condition. a. susceptible b. accepting c. disputed d. threatening 4. My doctor said my bones are showing signs of fragility so I am taking calcium supplements to help build up my bone density. a. mass b. thickness c. thinness d. weakness 5. Laser surgery! For a little wart? Is it really necessary to undergo such a drastic procedure for such an unexceptional affliction? a. fundamental b. last-minute c. extreme d. mild 6. Your genetic traits that are passed down to you from your parents can sometimes play a greater role in your health than the acquired behaviors that you engage daily. a. hereditary b. unmanageable c. attained d. healthiest 7. If you exert a little extra effort in your workout, you’ll see better results and improvements in your cardiovascular health than if you neglect to push yourself towards small goals. a. fail b. apply c. run d. dictate 8. My doctor absolutely denounces the holistic methods my Aunt swears by. He says that it’s phony medicine. a. blames b. condemns c. approves d. praises 9. While your son claims he is exhibiting signs of an upset stomach, I think it is more likely that he is just concealing his anxiety about taking his math test later today. a. providing b. hiding c. showing d. eliminating HESI A2 VOCABULARY PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS: Choose the best vocabulary word to complete each of the statements provided. 1. If you want to have burgers for dinner tomorrow night, you’ll have to remind me to take the meat patties out of the freezer to . a. corrode b. divide c. thaw d. eat 2. A rash in the shape of a bulls-eye on the skin is a sign for lyme disease. If you see one, you should go to the doctor for a blood test to confirm. a. shabby b. fair c. rigorous d. reliable 3. Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a bone disorder that causes fragile, easily broken bones; it is more commonly known as “ bone disease.” a. rigorous b. divided c. brittle d. artificial 4. Knee replacement surgery involves removing the knee bone and replacing it with an joint. a. rigorous b. divided c. brittle d. artificial 5. Recent studies show that consuming a/n of ibeprophen can be unhealthy and adults should only use it as needed. a. excess b. amount c. tablet d. combination 6. The training required to participate in the Olympics prevents many athletes from competing more than once. a. rigorous b. restricted c. combination d. latter 7. Diabetes is classified as type 1 or type 2. The commonly occurs as a result of obesity. Type 1, on the other hand, is believed to be genetic. a. other b. combination c. tentative d. latter 8. Some people think that you can get away with riding the train without paying the , but there are serious consequences if you get caught without a ticket. a. fair b. faire c. fare d. fee 9. The shoulder features a ball-and-socket joint that allows us to our arms. a. inflate b. roll c. rotate d. lift 10. Our time of arrival is 6pm, but that depends on how much traffic we hit on the highway. a. tentative b. absolute c. cautious d. revolving 11. X-rays can be used to changes in tissue that may indicate the presence of certain cancers. a. inflate b. detect c. magnify d. jolt 12. Josh’s skiing accident resulted in injuries that will require surgery on his back, knee, and shoulder. He will likely need to undergo multiple surgeries, as a result. a. hazardous b. revolving c. negative d. extensive 13. Good news! The results of your test for strep throat came back . You won’t need any antibiotics. a. negative b. positive c. accurate d. catalyzed 14. The liver transplant will require a rather large incision, so be sure to keep an eye out for signs of as you recover. The first symptom you might notice is redness or heat coming from the wound. a. jolting b. corrosion c. infection d. inflation 15. His reputation was irreparably by the news story that accused him of engaging in shady business deals. a. restricted b. blemished c. catalyzed d. increased 16. That polish was really effective—all the scratches on my car practically ! a. thawed b. fused c. vanished d. corroded 17. Pediatricians are specialized doctors that treat , specifically. Most children go to a pediatrician until they are 18 years old or out of college. a. juveniles b. adults c. infants d. seniors 18. Unhealthy weight is usually caused by a(n) of several factors including diet, exercise, and genetics. a. increase b. excess c. amount d. combination 19. In the lab, chemists deal with materials every day, so they wear protective gowns, gloves, and goggles to keep any dangerous chemical from coming into contact with their skin. a. brittle b. lukewarm c. extensive d. hazardous 20. The of his years of smoking was throat cancer. Eventually, his voice box needed to be removed and was replaced by a hole in his throat that he had to use for breathing and speaking. a. discharge b. annual c. cause d. consequence 21. Because she was totally to even the most obvious signs of heart disease, she did not alter her lifestyle and soon experience a heart attack. a. oblivious b. epidemic c. unscathed d. elevated 22. The car came to a screeching stop with a . a. fuse b. blemish c. jolt d. groan 23. The swelling caused by Tom’s recent fall off his bike has caused use of his right hand; fortunately, he is left-handed. a. inflated b. restricted c. abnormal d. problematic 24. It’s important that the readings of your resting heart rate are . Otherwise we won’t be able to properly determine a target heart rate. a. accurate b. elevated c. abnormal d. unscathed 25. Learning the anatomical terms is one of the most skills to learn as a student of anatomy and physiology. It’s the first thing you should learn! a. reliable b. restricted c. basic d. inconvenient 26. If you have difficulty with activities such as a balloon, you may want to work on improving your lung capacity. a. inflating b. elevating c. holding d. popping 27. When the cartilage between the bones of your spine wears out, spondylodesis, a surgical technique that together two or more vertebrae, can help relieve the back pain that often results. a. corroded b. thaws c. fares d. fuses 28. An insulin pump will beep to you when your insulin is low, it’s time to check your blood sugar, or the pump’s battery is low. a. restrict b. inconvenience c. alert d. jolt 29. It’s important to keep your ankle with a cushion or similar item after you experience a sprain; this will help reduce the swelling. a. lukewarm b. elevated c. brisk d. restricted 30. Two patients came into the ER after suffering a car accident; Jimmy had many broken bones, while Sarah didn’t have a scratch on her. Miraculously she came out of the accident . a. alert b. blemished c. unscathed d. oblivious 31. After so many years of use, the towels in the bathroom are starting to look quite ; I think I’ll buy some new ones this weekend. a. shabby b. placid c. sad d. corroded 32. The scooter he bought was terribly rusted and , but he didn’t pay that much for it. a. flimsy b. artificial c. sad d. corroded 33. Enzymes , or accelerate, chemical reactions. a. stop b. increase c. catalyze d. start 34. Some people only go to their physical to renew their prescriptions, but it is also an important opportunity to check in with your doctor for the year and verify you are in good health, generally. a. accumulate b. sensible c. annual d. inconvenient 35. If you let too much stress in your life, it can actually be bad for your health. It’s important to let go of things so you can feel lighter, happier, and healthier. a. commence b. accumulate c. catalyze d. infect 36. Going for a walk is a great cardiovascular exercise people who cannot run or jog as a result of joint issues. a. lukewarm b. unscathed c. brisk d. restricted 37. More and more companies are gluten-free products to meet the increasing demand of people with varying degrees of celiac disease. a. accumulating b. commencing c. manufacturing d. omitting 38. The brain is divided into two cerebral ; both sides have an external layer of grey matter and are connected together by the corpus callosum. a. hemispheres b. ailments c. reserves d. sensibles 39. Before a major surgery, you may be asked to give a certain amount of blood that the doctors can keep on in case complications arise during your surgery. a. epidemic b. jolt c. tentative d. reserve 40. Your forehead only feels . I doubt you have a fever. a. moist b. lukewarm c. brisk d. sensible 41. Once you taking this medication, you may experience several side effects such as drowsiness and loss of appetite. These symptoms should stop once you stop taking the medication. a. commence b. accumulate c. manufacture d. magnify 42. Doctors use an otoscope to examine the inner ear. It structures such as the ear canal and eardrum so they can be screened for characteristics indicative of various diseases. a. jolts b. omits c. magnifies d. complicates 43. Wearing shoes are not just comfortable; they can also save you for foot pain in the future! Studies show that women who wore high heels on a regular basis were more likely to suffer foot issues later in life. a. fused b. unscathed c. sensible d. brisk 44. Sometimes getting in a workout in can be , but if you make it part of your routine, it will become much easier. a. inconvenient b. sensible c. infecting d. magnifying 45. The outside is making my hair so frizzy! I wish it would just stop raining already. a. epidemic b. moisture c. tundra d. discharge 46. Make sure you wear sun block when your skin is exposed to UV rays or else you’ll be suffering much worse than prematurely wrinkled skin. a. ailments b. infections c. epidemics d. fares 47. When you are trying to get in shape, do not meditation from your diet and exercise routine. Quiet reflection is a very healthy way of reducing stress levels that can contribute to weight gain. a. complicate b. infect c. omit d. discharge 48. Some medications can your ability to operate a vehicle by causing drowsiness. Therefore, it is important to read and following the warnings on all your medications so you avoid dangerous situations like driving while drowsy. a. omit b. magnify c. complicate d. catalyze 49. According to some, obesity has become a(n) in the United States. The number of adults and children struggling with complications associated with obesity has skyrocketed over the past decade. a. epidemic b. ailment c. hemisphere d. consequence 50. Now that you are well, it’s time for us to you from the hospital and send you home! a. discharge b. omit c. commence d. jolt Synonyms: Worksheet Answer Key 1. Hateful Hostile 2. Task Burden 3. Apprehensive Anxious 4. Debate Negotiate 5. Split Sever 6. Copy Duplicate 7. Glowing Vivid 8. Out-of-date Obsolete 9. Intensify Escalate 10. Rejoice Exult Antonyms: 11. Destroy Generate 12. Tradition Innovate 13. Disobey Adhere 14. Plentiful Sparse 15. Unreal Tangible 16. Limited Immense 17. Harmful Beneficial 18. Reject Adapt 19. Develop Revert 20. Stable Hazardous Analogies: 21. passengers : plane :: capacity : bucket 22. deny : diet :: deprive : grounded 23. current : iphone :: obsolete : beeper 24. viewable : sight : tangible : touch 25. destroy : wreckage :: generate : creation 26. barter : trade :: negotiate : deal 27. dull : colorless :: vivid : colorful 28. plan : result :: priority : success 29. constructive : peace :: futile : war 30. rude : unwelcoming :: courteous : hospitable Word Meaning: 31. The immense stress his heart was under caused him to experience a heart attack last year. 32. Although you still might use them at home, oral thermometers have become obsolete in most doctors’ offices. 33. Spending less time tanning by the pool would be beneficial for the health of his skin. 34. The development of the EpiPen was an important innovation for people with serious allergies. 35. You may have to adapt to using your left hand for most activities until your bones have reset and the cast on your right arm can be removed. 36. She was very anxious about her surgery, but the doctor assured her that her recovery time would be short. 37. It was very courteous of the nurse to let me know that the stethoscope might feel shockingly cold before touching it to my back. 38. Joining the cross-country is really helping to increase my lung capacity . 39. The amount of pepperoni on the pizza was much too sparse , in my opinion—pepperoni is my favorite topping! 40. Please note that all used hypodermic needles should be disposed of in the box marked “ Hazardous Waste Disposal.” 41. Emergency responders are trained to keep patients and witnesses calm so that the commotion of situation does not escalate further. 42. It feels pretty futile to brush my teeth sometimes—no matter how often I brush, I still end up with cavities when I go to the dentist’s office! 43. By making regular exercise a priority , you will greatly improve your cardiovascular health. 44. If you don’t adhere to the instructions your doctor gave you, the treatment won’t be effective. 45. Ever since I broke my leg, I feel like such a burden to my mom. I can’t wait to be able to get up and do things for myself! 46. Moving to another town will mean severing ties with my doctor. I don’t know how I’ll replace him—he’s been my primary care physician for over ten years! 47. I’m sorry if I seem hostile . It’s not personal, I just really don’t like having my teeth cleaned. 48. We’ve generated several X-rays of your lungs, and we’re seeing some suspicious dark spots that we’d like to investigate further. 49. After you complete your nutrition program, it’s important that you don’t revert back to your previous snacking habits. 50. We all exulted in the news that the treatment had been successful and Grandma’s cancer was in remission. 51. Scanning electron microscopes can take detailed, vivid , colorful images of the microscopic world. Context Clues Using the other words as clues, circle the letter of the word that most closely matches the underlined word in the sentence. 1. The medication makes me feel a bit sluggish. Can we replace it with something that won’t impact my ability to work and stay active? a. tired b. alert c. hungry d. uncomfortable 2. I have been coping with increasingly severe back pain for the past few years. Is there something else I can be doing to alleviate the pain? I don’t know how much more I can take! a. dispensing b. comparing c. suffering d. angry 3. I know that you are very reluctant to have the surgery, but I promise the recovery time won’t be as bad as you anticipate and the long-term results will be well worth any pain you experience over the next few weeks. a. confident b. willing c. afraid d. competent 4. Your symptoms may have mimicked that of a heat attack, but actually you were experiencing a panic attack. They can appear very similar at first, but your test show that it was definitely not a heart attack. a. imitated b. prevented c. affirmed d. delivered 5. The physical therapy exercises may feel monotonous, but repetitive motion can actually contribute to your recovery in a significant way. a. eventful b. unimportant c. gratifying d. tedious 6. Remember that you must remain perfectly stationary while you have an MRI; otherwise, we’ll have to do it again so the image comes out clearly. a. elevated b. mobile c. motionless d. flexed 7. The tempo of your heartbeat is a bit off. We’d like to conduct some additional tests to confirm that it’s rhythm not a result of a serious heart murmur. a. rate b. health c. strength d. ability 8. We’ve compiled the results of your tests and determined that the two conditions you have been complaining of are not related. a. dismissed b. discharged c. gathered d. garnered 9. Sorry, I would give you a hug, but I’ve been battling a lingering cold for the past few weeks. I wish it would just go away already! a. remaining b. fleeting c. terrible d. slight Antonyms as Context Clues Using the antonym in blue, circle the letter of the word that most closely matches the underlined word in the sentence. 1. She was about to undergo controversial surgery against the wishes of her family, though the doctor assured them that the experimental procedure could produce very positive results. They wanted her to have a more tried-and-true treatment. a. disputed b. tested c. difficult d. easy 2. At first my symptoms seemed very clear-cut and explainable, but now my doctor says they’re presenting a bit of an enigma; he’ll have to administer a few more tests. a. conundrum b. obvious c. specific d. oblivious 3. Fortunately, the cancer was not as aggressive as we feared. Although there is still a long road ahead of us, we can feel much more calm about her condition. a. susceptible b. accepting c. disputed d. threatening 4. My doctor said my bones are showing signs of fragility so I am taking calcium supplements to help build up my bone density. a. mass b. thickness c. thinness d. weakness 5. Laser surgery! For a little wart? Is it really necessary to undergo such a drastic procedure for such an unexceptional affliction? a. fundamental b. last-minute c. extreme d. mild 6. Your genetic traits that are passed down to you from your parents can sometimes play a greater role in your health than the acquired behaviors that you engage daily. a. hereditary b. unmanageable c. attained d. healthiest 7. If you exert a little extra effort in your workout, you’ll see better results and improvements in your cardiovascular health than if you neglect to push yourself towards small goals. a. fail b. apply c. run d. dictate 8. My doctor absolutely denounces the holistic methods my Aunt swears by. He says that it’s phony medicine. 9. While your son claims he is exhibiting signs of an upset stomach, I think it is more likely that he is just concealing his anxiety about taking his math test later today. a. providing b. hiding c. showing d. eliminating e. blames f. condemns g. approves h. praises HESI A2 Vocabulary Practice Test Answers 1. If you want to have burgers for dinner tomorrow night, you’ll have to remind me to take the meat patties out of the freezer to . a. corrode b. divide c. thaw d. eat “Corrode” means to disintegrate, which doesn’t make sense in this context. We know that the meat has already been divided into patties, so choice B is incorrect. While the patties will become burgers that will be eaten later, this statement is not discussing that; the patties are still frozen, uncooked, and inedible at this stage. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer. 2. A rash in the shape of a bulls-eye on the skin is a sign for Lyme disease. If you see one, you should go to the doctor for a blood test to confirm. a. shabby b. fair c. rigorous d. reliable “Shabby” describes something that is tattered, which does not apply in this context. “Fair” can be used as a descriptor in a number of ways, but none of them would describe a bulls-eye rash. While “rigorous” could indicate something severe, choice D is the best fit for this sentence based upon the information we have. 3. Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a bone disorder that causes fragile, easily broken bones; it is more commonly known as “ bone disease.” a. rigorous b. divided c. brittle d. artificial “Rigorous” would not be used to describe fragile bones. “Divided” could seem correct, but brittle is a closer synonym for fragile. The statement doesn’t mention bone replacement, so we can assume that artificial bones aren’t being discussed here. 4. Knee replacement surgery involves removing the knee bone and replacing it with an joint. a. rigorous b. divided c. brittle d. artificial A brittle joint would be counterproductive and a divided joint doesn’t make sense. Although a rigorous joint might be advantageous, the student should be able to tell from the context of a knee replacement that we are talking about an artificial joint. 5. Recent studies show that consuming a/n of ibeprophen can be unhealthy and adults should only use it as needed. a. excess b. amount c. tablet d. combination The sentence includes a qualifying statement that identifies what is considered “healthy” consumption. “Amount” is incorrect because it is too vague. Tablet, could be correct, but if students consider the qualifying statement at the end of the sentence, they could infer that consuming one tablet of ibeprophen would not be considered “unhealthy.” combination, is incorrect because the statement only refers to one kind of medication. 6. The training required to participate in the Olympics prevents many athletes from competing more than once. They are only in shape to compete at that level for a short length of time. a. rigorous b. restricted c. combination d. latter Students should be able to infer that the training is so extensive and rigorous that athletes are not physically capable of competing more than once. Latter and combination do not make sense in the sentence on their own. 7. Diabetes is classified as type 1 or type 2. The commonly occurs as a result of obesity. Type 1, on the other hand, is believed to be genetic. a. other b. combination c. tentative d. latter Because the final sentence discusses Type 1 diabetes, the student should be able to determine that the sentence with the missing word is discussing Type 2 diabetes exclusively. Therefore, choice D is correct. 8. Some people think that you can get away with riding the train without paying the , but there are serious consequences if you get caught without a ticket. a. fair b. faire c. fare d. fee Choices A and B are the wrong spellings for this use of “fare.” A fee is similar, but not quite the same thing as a fare. Therefore, C is the correct answer. 9. The shoulder features a ball-and-socket joint that allows us to our arms. a. inflate b. roll c. rotate d. grow Arms cannot be “inflated” and “rolling” is not as accurate as “rotate” is to describe action that can be made with the shoulder. Furthermore, joints do not allow us to “grow” ligaments. 10. Our time of arrival is 6pm, but that depends on how much traffic we hit on the highway. a. tentative b. absolute c. cautious d. revolving The time is not absolute because they do not know how much traffic they will hit. Choices C and D do not make sense when discussing time of arrival. Therefore, the correct answer is A. 11. X-rays can be used to changes in tissue that may indicate the presence of certain cancers. a. inflate b. detect c. magnify d. jolt Changes in tissues cannot be inflated or magnified, although the X-rays, themselves, can be. However, X-rays can detect changes in tissues. “Jolt” is not a word that applies to this sentence. Therefore, choice B is correct. 12. Josh’s skiing accident resulted in injuries that will require surgery on his back, knee, and shoulder. He will likely need to undergo multiple surgeries, as a result. a. hazardous b. revolving c. negative d. extensive Though the surgery may be complicated or even hazardous, the second sentence tells us that their will be multiple surgeries which is most closely related to choice D, extensive. 13. Good news! The results of your test for strep throat came back . You won’t need any antibiotics. a. negative b. positive c. accurate d. catalyzed Because we are told that antibiotics will not be necessary, we can infer that the positive came back not only accurate but, more specifically, negative. Therefore, A is the correct choice. 14. The liver transplant will require a rather large incision, so be sure to keep an eye out for signs of as you recover. The first symptom you might notice is redness or heat coming from the wound. a. jolting b. corrosion c. infection d. inflation The second sentence describes an infection, which should be a major hint to students of what the correct answer is out of the choices provided. 15. His reputation was irreparably by the news story that accused him of engaging in shady business deals. a. restricted b. blemished c. catalyzed d. increased The most important word to take note of when selecting the correct answer is “irreparably” because it modifies the missing word. Blemished is the only negative word choice and therefore, it is the word that best fits the sentence. 16. That polish was really effective—all the scratches on my car practically ! a. thawed b. fused c. vanished d. corroded Corrosion, thawing, and fusion, are probably not the effects someone is looking for when they polish their car. Varnished is the only option that makes sense. 17. Pediatricians are specialized doctors that treat , specifically. Most children go to a pediatrician until they are 18 years old or out of college. a. juveniles b. adults c. infants d. seniors Juveniles can be determined to be the correct answer because the use of “children” in the second sentence eliminates adults, infants, and seniors, as an option. 18. Unhealthy weight is usually caused by a(n) of several factors including diet, exercise, and genetics. a. increase b. excess c. amount d. combination The word “several” is the giveaway for this question. Although increase, excess, and amount could all feasibly be ways to describe individual factors that contribute to unhealthy weight, choice D is the only one that accounts for several factors. 19. In the lab, chemists deal with materials every day, so they wear protective gowns, gloves, and goggles to keep any dangerous chemical from coming into contact with their skin. a. brittle b. lukewarm c. extensive d. hazardous “Hazardous” is the only option that would require protective gowns, gloves, and goggles. Therefore, we can eliminate the other three options. 20. The of his years of smoking was throat cancer. Eventually, his voice box needed to be removed and was replaced by a hole in his throat that he had to use for breathing and speaking. a. discharge b. annual c. cause d. consequence This sentence is describing a cause and effect. The cause in this case is smoking, and the effect is throat cancer. Therefore, the best word to complete this sentence is “consequence.” 21. Because she was totally to even the most obvious signs of heart disease, she did not alter her lifestyle and soon experience a heart attack. a. oblivious b. epidemic c. unscathed d. elevated Choices B and C do not make sense in the context of this sentence. Choice D might seem like it fits, but taking a close look at the information provided in the second half of the sentence indicates that we are looking for a word that expresses a lack of knowledge. Therefore, choice A is the best answer. 22. The car came to a screeching stop with a . a. fuse b. blemish c. jolt d. groan Choice A and B do not match the meaning required by the context of this sentence. “Groan” fits, but it is not as accurate as “jolt” particularly when the descriptor “screeching” is taken into account. 23. The swelling caused by Tom’s recent fall off his bike has caused use of his right hand; fortunately, he is left-handed. a. inflated b. restricted c. abnormal d. problematic Choice A is simply incorrect. Choice C might seem correct, but the information provided by the “swelling” description would indicate a more specific answer would be more appropriate. Choice D is not quite accurate because the statement lets us know that Tom is left-handed; while the swelling in his right hand might be a bit of a nuisance, it wouldn’t necessarily be described as “problematic” because he primarily uses his left hand. Students should also consider that “problematic” is the only subjective word included in the list. Choice B would be the correct choice because it accurately and objectively describes the impact the swelling has had on Tom’s right hand. 24. It’s important that the readings of your resting heart rate are . Otherwise we won’t be able to properly determine a target heart rate. a. accurate b. elevated c. abnormal d. unscathed Any of these words could fit the blank, but the second statement provides additional details. “Accurate” is the only word that will ensure a target heart rate is properly determined. 25. Learning the anatomical terms is one of the most skills to learn as a student of anatomy and physiology. It’s the first thing you should learn! a. reliable b. restricted c. basic d. inconvenient This sentence is arguing that learning anatomical terms is both important and one of the initial concepts of A&P. Therefore, it is best described as a “basic” skill. While it could also be described as reliable or even inconvenient in some circumstance, “basic” makes the most sense when discussing the first concepts studied in A&P. 26. If you have difficulty with activities such as a balloon, you may want to work on improving your lung capacity. a. inflating b. elevating c. holding d. popping The clue here is “lung capacity.” Students should look for a verb that would involve using your lungs, primarily. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. 27. When the cartilage between the bones of your spine wears out, spondylodesis, a surgical technique that together two or more vertebrae, can help relieve the back pain that often results. a. corroded b. thaws c. fares d. fuses Students can look up the term “spondylodesis” or they can use the context clues already provided in the statement. They should look for a word that involves two things coming together. Therefore, “fuses” is the only choice that works. 28. An insulin pump will beep to you when your insulin is low, it’s time to check your blood sugar, or the pump’s battery is low. a. restrict b. inconvenience c. alert d. jolt Students should consider what the purpose of a “beep” is to a person with diabetes. A beep is not a physical action, so “jolt” and “restrict” would both be incorrect. While a beep might be an annoyance, it is not an inconvenient in this context because it is directing you that action needs to be taken. Therefore, “alert” is the best option. 29. It’s important to keep your ankle with a cushion or similar item after you experience a sprain; this will help reduce the swelling. a. lukewarm b. elevated c. brisk d. restricted Students should consider how a cushion could be used after spraining an ankle. “Brisk” doesn’t make sense in this context. A cushion would also not effectively keep your ankle lukewarm or restricted. Therefore, “elevated” is the best choice available. 30. Two patients came into the ER after suffering a car accident; Jimmy had many broken bones, while Sarah didn’t have a scratch on her. Miraculously she came out of the accident . a. alert b. blemished c. unscathed d. oblivious “Unscathed” means without suffering any injury, damage, or harm. The contrast between Jimmy having many broken bones, and Sarah not having a scratch on her is a clue that she was uninjured in the accident. 31. After so many years of use, the towels in the bathroom are starting to look quite ; I think I’ll buy some new ones this weekend. a. shabby b. placid c. sad d. corroded “Placid” and “corroded” cannot, by their definitions, describe the condition of a towel. “Sad” might fit, but it is not the best answer available based up on the information we are given in the sentence. “Shabby” fits the context of the sentence best. 32. The scooter he bought was terribly rusted and , but he didn’t pay that much for it. a. flimsy b. artificial c. sad d. corroded “Flimsy” and “artificial” do not match the context clue provided by “rusted.” While “sad” may seem like an appropriate descriptor based upon the clue, “corroded” is more closely related to “rusted”, making D the correct answer. 33. Enzymes , or accelerate, chemical reactions. a. stop b. increase c. catalyze d. start Students are provided two hints for this question. The first is the synonym “accelerated” and the second is the context clue of “chemical reactions.” “Increase” might seem correct because of the hint included in the statement, however it does not completely describe how enzymes initiate chemical reactions. “Start” is closer to the correct answer, but it is not the best answer available if students consider the context clue and vocabulary hint provided. “Stop” is incorrect, so “Catalyze” would be the correct answer. 34. Some people only go to their physical to renew their prescriptions, but it is also an important opportunity to check in with your doctor for the year and verify you are in good health, generally. a. accumulate b. sensible c. annual d. inconvenient While a physical may be inconvenient or sensible, this sentence is looking for a word that specifies how often you might go for this kind of doctor’s visit. Therefore, “annual” is the correct answer. 35. If you let too much stress in your life, it can actually be bad for your health. It’s important to let go of things so you can feel lighter, happier, and healthier. a. commence b. accumulate c. catalyze d. infect The second sentence tells us that why you should do the opposite of what is discussed in the first sentence. If the second sentence is talking about letting go of stress, the first sentence must be talking about acquiring stress. Therefore, “accumulate” would be the best fit. 36. Going for a walk is a great cardiovascular exercise people who cannot run or jog as a result of joint issues. a. lukewarm b. unscathed c. brisk d. restricted Students should determine that the sentence is discussing a type of running that can be considered a cardiovascular workout. “Restricted” indicates the opposite, and choices A and D don’t really fit the context. Therefore, “brisk” is the correct answer. 37. More and more companies are gluten-free products to meet the increasing demand of people with varying degrees of celiac disease. a. accumulating b. commencing c. manufacturing d. omitting Choice B doesn’t make sense for this sentence and choice D has the opposite meaning of what is needed to complete the sentence. Choice A could seem correct, but because the sentence is discussing business operations, students should see that choice C fits the context of the sentence best. 38. The brain is divided into two cerebral ; both sides have an external layer of grey matter and are connected together by the corpus callosum. a. hemispheres b. ailments c. reserves d. sensibles Hemispheres is the only choice that makes here. Students should the second part of the statement to give them clues about which word they should be looking for. Hemisphere is a geographic direction term, typically, so they should recognize its application to the brain regions as well. 39. Before a major surgery, you may be asked to give a certain amount of blood that the doctors can keep on in case complications arise during your surgery. a. epidemic b. jolt c. tentative d. reserve This statement discusses why blood is collected before a surgery. The major context clue here is that blood is being collected “in case” of complications. “Epidemic” and “jolt” do not fit the context of this sentence and “tentative” is an adjective. Therefore, the noun “reserve” is the only choice that fits. 40. Your forehead only feels . I doubt you have a fever. a. moist b. lukewarm c. brisk d. sensible The word “fever” indicates that the speaker is discussing a temperature. Therefore, “lukewarm” is the only option that would fit this sentence. 41. Once you taking this medication, you may experience several side effects such as drowsiness and loss of appetite. These symptoms should stop once you stop taking the medication. a. commence b. accumulate c. manufacture d. magnify The second sentence tells us when symptoms stop, so we can deduce that the first sentence tells us when symptoms start. Students should look for the word with a similar meaning to “start,” which will lead them to “commence as the correct answer. 42. Doctors use an otoscope to examine the inner ear. It structures such as the ear canal and eardrum so they can be screened for characteristics indicative of various diseases. a. jolts b. omits c. magnifies d. complicates Students may want to look up “otoscope” and other context clues provided in this statement to determine which word best completes the second sentence. From that information, they can determine that it serves to magnify structures for screening. 43. Wearing shoes are not just comfortable; they can also save you for foot pain in the future! Studies show that women who wore high heels on a regular basis were more likely to suffer foot issues later in life. a. fused b. unscathed c. sensible d. brisk Students should use the comparison provided by the second sentence to determine that the word they are looking is the opposite of high-heeled shoes. Therefore, “sensible” shoes would be the best choice here. 44. Sometimes getting in a workout in can be , but if you make it part of your routine, it will become much easier. a. inconvenient b. sensible c. infecting d. magnifying Choices C and D do not make sense for the context of this statement. “Sensible” could be used to describe incorporating workouts into your routine. However, because the second part of the sentence is in opposition to the first part, we need to look for a negative adjective. Therefore, choice A is the best fit for this sentence. 45. The outside is making my hair so frizzy! I wish it would just stop raining already. a. epidemic b. moisture c. tundra d. discharge Choices A and C are not conditions that would cause hair to frizz. Although “discharge” might seem to fit the context of rain, it does not fit as well as “moisture.” Therefore, choice B is the correct answer. 46. Make sure you wear sun block when your skin is exposed to UV rays or else you’ll be suffering much worse than prematurely wrinkled skin. a. ailments b. infections c. epidemics d. fares UV rays typically do not cause infections or epidemics, and “fares” does not fit the context of this sentence at all. Therefore, choice A is the correct word. 47. When you are trying to get in shape, do not meditation from your diet and exercise routine. Quiet reflection is a very healthy way of reducing stress levels that can contribute to weight gain. a. complicate b. infect c. omit d. discharge The second sentence tells us why the second half of the first sentence is important. “Omit” makes the most sense because the statement is discussing why it is important to practice meditation. 48. Some medications can your ability to operate a vehicle by causing drowsiness. Therefore, it is important to read and following the warnings on all your medications so you avoid dangerous situations like driving while drowsy. a. omit b. magnify c. complicate d. catalyze Magnify and catalyze the opposite of the word needed to fill the blank here. Omit might seem correct, but complicate is the best fit for this sentence. The follow-up sentence strengthens the use of “complicate” by describing why it would be dangerous to drive while taking a medication. 49. According to some, obesity has become a(n) in the United States. The number of adults and children struggling with complications associated with obesity has skyrocketed over the past decade. a. epidemic b. ailment c. hemisphere d. consequence While obesity may be ailing Americans, it is more accurate to say that it is an epidemic because of the speed at which it is spreading. Hemisphere and consequence are both do not make sense for this sentence. 50. Now that you are well, it’s time for us to you from the hospital and send you home! a. discharge b. omit c. commence d. jolt “Jolt” is far too aggressive and physical of a word for this sentence. Discharge is a much more appropriate choice. The meanings of omit and commence both do not match this sentence, so they are incorrect. Practice Test Answers: List of vocab words: Accumulate: (v.) to gather or pile up especially little by little Accurate: (adj.) free from mistakes especially as the result of care Ailment: (n.) a bodily disorder Alert: (v.) to call to a state of readiness Annual: (adj.) covering the period of a year Artificial: (adj.) made, produced, or performed by human beings often following a natural model or process Basic: (adj.) of, relating to, or forming the base or basis: fundamental Blemish: (v.) a mark that makes something imperfect Brisk: (adj.) very active or alert Brittle: (adj.) easily broken, cracked, or snapped Catalyze: (v.) to bring about or produce by chemical catalysis Combination: (n.) a result or product of combining; especially : a number of persons or groups joined together to achieve some end Complicate: (v.) to make or become complex or difficult Consequence: (n.) result, effect Corrode (v.) to eat or be eaten away by degrees as if by gnawing Detect: (v.) to discover the nature, existence, presence, or fact of Discharge: (v.) to relieve of a charge, load, or burden Elevate: (v.) to lift up or make higher Epidemic: (n.) a sudden rapidly spreading outbreak or growth Excess: (n.) a state of being more than enough Extensive: (adj.) having wide or large extent Fare: (n.) the money a person pays to travel by public transportation (as a bus) Fuse: (v.) to unite by or as if by melting together Hazardous: (adj.) dangerous, risky Hemisphere: (n.) one of two halves of a sphere Inconvenient: (adj.) not convenient : causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance Infection: (n.) an act or process of infecting; the state produced by something infectious (as a germ or parasite) living in or on a suitable host Inflate: (v.) to swell or fill with air or gas, or to increase abnormally Jolt: (v.) to give a quick hard blow to; to move jerkily Juvenile: (n.) a young person, animal, or plant Latter: (adj.) of, relating to, or being the second of two things referred to Lukewarm: (adj.) mildly warm Magnify: (v.) to enlarge in fact or in appearance Manufacture: (v.) to make into a product suitable for use Moisture: (n.) a small amount of liquid that causes dampness Negative: (adj.) not indicating the presence of a particular condition Oblivious: (adj.) not being conscious or aware Omit: (v.) to leave out Reliable: (adj.) fit to be trusted Reserve: (v.) to keep in store for future or special use Restricted: (v.) to place under limits as to use Rigorous: (adj.) very strict Rotate: (v.) to turn or cause to turn about an axis or a center Sensible: (adj.) showing or containing good sense or reason Shabby: (adj.) worn and faded from wear Tentative: (adj.) not fully worked out or developed Thaw: (n) to become free of the effects of cold temperatures by being exposed to warmth Unscathed: (adj.) completely unharmed: not injured Vanish: (v.) to pass from sight or existence Scroll down to the next page for a list of the most common words tested on the HESI A2 Vocabulary Exam Most Common Vocab Words on the actual HESI A2 Vocab Section: Abstain Accountable Acute Adhere Adverse Aegis Ambivalent Apply Assent Audible Bacteria Bilateral Cardiac Cavity Cease Chronology Compensatory Concave Concise Consistency Constrict Contingent Contraindication Convulsive Cursory Defecate Deficit Depress Depth Deteriorating Device Diagnosis Dilate Dilute Discrete Distal Distended Dysfunction Empathy Equilibrium Etiology Exacerbate Expand Exposure Extension External Fatal Fatigue Flexion Flushed Gastrointestinal Hematologic Hydration Hygiene Impaired Impending Impervious Imply Incidence Infection Infer Inflamed Ingest Initiate Insidious Intact Internal Invasive Kinetic Labile Laceration Latent Lateral Lethargic manifestation Musculoskeletal Neurologic Neurovascular Nutrient Occluded Ongoing Oral Optic Parameter Patent Pathogenic Pathology Posterior Potent Potential Precaution Precipitous Predispose Preexisting Primary Priority Prognosis Rationale Recur Renal Respiration Restrict Retain Serene Status Sublingual Supplement Suppress Symmetric Symptom Syndrome Therapeutic Toxic Transdermal Transmission Trauma Triage Ubiquitous Urinate Vascular Verbal Virulent Virus Vital Volume