HESI A2 Admission Assessment Exam ACTUAL EXAM
– Complete Questions & Verified Answers Latest
Update – Graded A
Reading Comprehension (Questions 1-15)
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. persuade readers to adopt a vegetarian diet.
B. describe the biochemical structure of plant proteins.
C. compare the environmental costs of animal vs. plant protein production.
D. chronicle the history of livestock domestication.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage opens by stating that “producing 1 kg of beef requires 25 kg of
feed and 15 000 L of water, whereas 1 kg of lentils needs only 1.1 kg of seed and 1 250
L of water.” All subsequent paragraphs quantify land, water, and greenhouse-gas
differences between the two protein sources, never advocating diet change (A),
detailing molecular structures (B), or recounting historical events (D).
2. In paragraph 2, the word “substantial” most nearly means
A. theoretical.
B. considerable.
C. fragile.
D. edible.
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The sentence reads “livestock contribute a substantial 14.5 % of global
greenhouse gases.” Only “considerable” (B) conveys the intended large magnitude. The
other choices do not fit contextually.
3. Which statement is NOT supported by the passage?
A. Soy cultivation fixes atmospheric nitrogen.
B. Enteric fermentation in cattle releases methane.
C. Poultry production uses less water than beef production.
D. Plant-protein yields per hectare exceed animal-protein yields.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nitrogen fixation by soy is never mentioned; B, C, and D are explicitly stated or
directly implied.
4. The author’s tone toward current livestock practices is best described as
A. apathetic.
B. celebratory.
C. cautionary.
D. nostalgic.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Words such as “unsustainable,” “alarming,” and “urgent” signal caution, not
indifference (A), praise (B), or longing (D).
5. The passage implies that consumer substitution of beans for beef would most
likely
A. increase world protein supply.
B. reduce personal grocery costs.
, C. eliminate vitamin B12 from diets.
D. raise soy futures prices.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The text notes plant proteins cost “one-third the retail price of beef,” implying
savings; it never claims total protein would rise (A), B12 would vanish (C), or commodity
markets would spike (D).
6. The final paragraph functions primarily to
A. refute earlier evidence.
B. propose solutions.
C. summarize counter-arguments.
D. shift to anecdotal narrative.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The last paragraph lists “policy options,” “incentives,” and “dietary guidelines,”
i.e., solutions.
7. Which paragraph first introduces quantitative data?
A. Paragraph 1
B. Paragraph 2
C. Paragraph 3
D. Paragraph 4
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Paragraph 1 contains the initial feed and water statistics.
8. The passage cites the FAO most probably to
A. lend authority to statistics.
– Complete Questions & Verified Answers Latest
Update – Graded A
Reading Comprehension (Questions 1-15)
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. persuade readers to adopt a vegetarian diet.
B. describe the biochemical structure of plant proteins.
C. compare the environmental costs of animal vs. plant protein production.
D. chronicle the history of livestock domestication.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage opens by stating that “producing 1 kg of beef requires 25 kg of
feed and 15 000 L of water, whereas 1 kg of lentils needs only 1.1 kg of seed and 1 250
L of water.” All subsequent paragraphs quantify land, water, and greenhouse-gas
differences between the two protein sources, never advocating diet change (A),
detailing molecular structures (B), or recounting historical events (D).
2. In paragraph 2, the word “substantial” most nearly means
A. theoretical.
B. considerable.
C. fragile.
D. edible.
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The sentence reads “livestock contribute a substantial 14.5 % of global
greenhouse gases.” Only “considerable” (B) conveys the intended large magnitude. The
other choices do not fit contextually.
3. Which statement is NOT supported by the passage?
A. Soy cultivation fixes atmospheric nitrogen.
B. Enteric fermentation in cattle releases methane.
C. Poultry production uses less water than beef production.
D. Plant-protein yields per hectare exceed animal-protein yields.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nitrogen fixation by soy is never mentioned; B, C, and D are explicitly stated or
directly implied.
4. The author’s tone toward current livestock practices is best described as
A. apathetic.
B. celebratory.
C. cautionary.
D. nostalgic.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Words such as “unsustainable,” “alarming,” and “urgent” signal caution, not
indifference (A), praise (B), or longing (D).
5. The passage implies that consumer substitution of beans for beef would most
likely
A. increase world protein supply.
B. reduce personal grocery costs.
, C. eliminate vitamin B12 from diets.
D. raise soy futures prices.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The text notes plant proteins cost “one-third the retail price of beef,” implying
savings; it never claims total protein would rise (A), B12 would vanish (C), or commodity
markets would spike (D).
6. The final paragraph functions primarily to
A. refute earlier evidence.
B. propose solutions.
C. summarize counter-arguments.
D. shift to anecdotal narrative.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The last paragraph lists “policy options,” “incentives,” and “dietary guidelines,”
i.e., solutions.
7. Which paragraph first introduces quantitative data?
A. Paragraph 1
B. Paragraph 2
C. Paragraph 3
D. Paragraph 4
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Paragraph 1 contains the initial feed and water statistics.
8. The passage cites the FAO most probably to
A. lend authority to statistics.
