HESI A2 - Reading Comprehension Exam With
Complete Solutions 100% Correct
Identifying the Main Idea - ANSWER First identify the topic by asking "What is the
passage about?" Once this question is answered, then ask "What point is the author
making about this topic?" The majority of paragraphs will include information about the
main idea. Stop and summaries, and visualize as you read.
HESI Tip: Central Ideas - ANSWER Central ideas may be stated at the beginning, middle,
or the end of a paragraph or a passage. Always check for the main idea in the
introduction and the conclusion.
Topic Sentence-ANSWER A sentence which states the central idea of the paragraph.
May be stated in one or two sentences, also are usually found in the beginning of
paragraphs.
Identifying Supporting Details- ANSWER Supporting details are details that the writer
uses to describe give a background, or simply give more information to support his main
idea. They can be examples facts or statistics. Often the author's main idea can be
confused with the examples or reasons that support the main idea.
Hint Identifying Supporting Details - ANSWER Ordinarily the reader can find details by
the authors use of transition words such as one, next, another, first, or finally that signal
a detail is about to be given.
Finding the Meaning of Words in Context - ANSWER Locating the meaning of a word or
words may be the answer to discovering the author's main idea. The reader should use
context clues to determine meaning of a word.
Context Clue - ANSWER The information provided by the author in the words or
sentences surrounding the unknown word or words.
, Context Clue Type - DEFINITION When the author puts in parentheses the meaning of
the word or states in a following sentence.
Synonym Context Clue - ANSWER When the author gives the reader another word that
means the same or nearly the same as the unknown word.
Antonym Context Clue - ANSWER When the author gives a word that means the opposite
of the unknown word.
HESI Hint: Antonym Context Clues - ANSWER The reader has to look for clue words
such as although, but, and instead, which at times will lead to an antonym being used.
Restatement Context Clue - ANSWER When the author uses a sentence to restate in
familiar words the unknown word.
"Example Context Clue" - ANSWER When the author provides examples that are clear in
helping the reader determine the meaning of the unknown word.
Explanatory Context Clue - ANSWER When the author provides more information about
the unknown word, which more clearly explains the meaning of the word.
Word Structure Context Clue - ANSWER Sometimes simply knowing the meaning of
basic prefixes, suffixes and root words can aid the reader to make an educated guess
about the meaning of an unknown word.
HESI Hint: Finding a word's Meaning from Context-ANSWER Look closely at the words
and sentences before and after the unfamiliar word. After choosing the correct
meaning, reread the passage using that meaning. It should make sense and the meaning
should be reflected in the other sentences in the passage or paragraph
Identifying a Writers Purpose - ANSWER Factual information can be used in order to
inform, and information that contains positive or negative connotations or judgments
can be used in persuading. An in-depth investigation of a topic can be an analysis.
Complete Solutions 100% Correct
Identifying the Main Idea - ANSWER First identify the topic by asking "What is the
passage about?" Once this question is answered, then ask "What point is the author
making about this topic?" The majority of paragraphs will include information about the
main idea. Stop and summaries, and visualize as you read.
HESI Tip: Central Ideas - ANSWER Central ideas may be stated at the beginning, middle,
or the end of a paragraph or a passage. Always check for the main idea in the
introduction and the conclusion.
Topic Sentence-ANSWER A sentence which states the central idea of the paragraph.
May be stated in one or two sentences, also are usually found in the beginning of
paragraphs.
Identifying Supporting Details- ANSWER Supporting details are details that the writer
uses to describe give a background, or simply give more information to support his main
idea. They can be examples facts or statistics. Often the author's main idea can be
confused with the examples or reasons that support the main idea.
Hint Identifying Supporting Details - ANSWER Ordinarily the reader can find details by
the authors use of transition words such as one, next, another, first, or finally that signal
a detail is about to be given.
Finding the Meaning of Words in Context - ANSWER Locating the meaning of a word or
words may be the answer to discovering the author's main idea. The reader should use
context clues to determine meaning of a word.
Context Clue - ANSWER The information provided by the author in the words or
sentences surrounding the unknown word or words.
, Context Clue Type - DEFINITION When the author puts in parentheses the meaning of
the word or states in a following sentence.
Synonym Context Clue - ANSWER When the author gives the reader another word that
means the same or nearly the same as the unknown word.
Antonym Context Clue - ANSWER When the author gives a word that means the opposite
of the unknown word.
HESI Hint: Antonym Context Clues - ANSWER The reader has to look for clue words
such as although, but, and instead, which at times will lead to an antonym being used.
Restatement Context Clue - ANSWER When the author uses a sentence to restate in
familiar words the unknown word.
"Example Context Clue" - ANSWER When the author provides examples that are clear in
helping the reader determine the meaning of the unknown word.
Explanatory Context Clue - ANSWER When the author provides more information about
the unknown word, which more clearly explains the meaning of the word.
Word Structure Context Clue - ANSWER Sometimes simply knowing the meaning of
basic prefixes, suffixes and root words can aid the reader to make an educated guess
about the meaning of an unknown word.
HESI Hint: Finding a word's Meaning from Context-ANSWER Look closely at the words
and sentences before and after the unfamiliar word. After choosing the correct
meaning, reread the passage using that meaning. It should make sense and the meaning
should be reflected in the other sentences in the passage or paragraph
Identifying a Writers Purpose - ANSWER Factual information can be used in order to
inform, and information that contains positive or negative connotations or judgments
can be used in persuading. An in-depth investigation of a topic can be an analysis.
