HESI Practice Test 1 Reading Comprehension

What is the most likely purpose of a popular science book describing recent advances in genetics?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

The purpose of this passage is to:

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

With which statement would the author of this passage most likely agree?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

Which detail from the passage, if true, is factual?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

The author of the passage includes details about WiseWear’s comfort and ease of use in order to appeal to the readers:

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

The author most likely includes the detail about a famous ultra-marathoner in order to make readers:

Please read the text below and answer the following question.

A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant than it may seem at first glance. This is not merely a change in weather in any one location. Rather, it is an average change in temperatures around the entire surface of the planet. It takes a vast amount of heat energy to warm every part of our world—including oceans, air, and land—by even a tiny measurable amount. Moreover, relatively small changes in the earth’s surface temperatures have historically caused enormous changes in climate. In the last ice age 20,000 years ago, when much of the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice, mean global temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now. Scientists predict a temperature rise of two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. What if this causes similarly drastic changes to the world we call home?

Which sentence is the topic sentence?

Please read the text below and answer the following question.

A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant than it may seem at first glance. This is not merely a change in weather in any one location. Rather, it is an average change in temperatures around the entire surface of the planet. It takes a vast amount of heat energy to warm every part of our world—including oceans, air, and land—by even a tiny measurable amount. Moreover, relatively small changes in the earth’s surface temperatures have historically caused enormous changes in climate. In the last ice age 20,000 years ago, when much of the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice, mean global temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now. Scientists predict a temperature rise of two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. What if this causes similarly drastic changes to the world we call home?

In the paragraph above, global temperature change is:

Please read the text below and answer the following question.

A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant than it may seem at first glance. This is not merely a change in weather in any one location. Rather, it is an average change in temperatures around the entire surface of the planet. It takes a vast amount of heat energy to warm every part of our world—including oceans, air, and land—by even a tiny measurable amount. Moreover, relatively small changes in the earth’s surface temperatures have historically caused enormous changes in climate. In the last ice age 20,000 years ago, when much of the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice, mean global temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now. Scientists predict a temperature rise of two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. What if this causes similarly drastic changes to the world we call home?

Which sentence summarizes the main idea of the paragraph?

Please read the text below and answer the following question.

A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant than it may seem at first glance. This is not merely a change in weather in any one location. Rather, it is an average change in temperatures around the entire surface of the planet. It takes a vast amount of heat energy to warm every part of our world—including oceans, air, and land—by even a tiny measurable amount. Moreover, relatively small changes in the earth’s surface temperatures have historically caused enormous changes in climate. In the last ice age 20,000 years ago, when much of the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice, mean global temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now. Scientists predict a temperature rise of two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. What if this causes similarly drastic changes to the world we call home?

What function does the information about temperature differences in the last ice age play in the paragraph?

Please read the text below and answer the following question.

A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant than it may seem at first glance. This is not merely a change in weather in any one location. Rather, it is an average change in temperatures around the entire surface of the planet. It takes a vast amount of heat energy to warm every part of our world—including oceans, air, and land—by even a tiny measurable amount. Moreover, relatively small changes in the earth’s surface temperatures have historically caused enormous changes in climate. In the last ice age 20,000 years ago, when much of the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice, mean global temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now. Scientists predict a temperature rise of two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. What if this causes similarly drastic changes to the world we call home?

Which sentence would best function as a supporting detail in this paragraph?

Read the sentence below and answer the following question.

Numerous robotic missions to Mars have revealed tantalizing evidence of a planet that may once have been capable of supporting life.

Imagine this sentence is a supporting detail  in a well-developed paragraph. Which of the following sentences would best function as a topic sentence?

Read the sentence below and answer the following question.

Numerous robotic missions to Mars have revealed tantalizing evidence of a planet that may once have been capable of supporting life.

Imagine this sentence is the topic sentence  of a well-developed paragraph. Which of the following sentences would best function as a supporting detail?

Read the sentence below and answer the following question.

Numerous robotic missions to Mars have revealed tantalizing evidence of a planet that may once have been capable of supporting life.

How could this sentence function as a supporting detail  in a persuasive text arguing that space research is worth the expense and effort because it teaches us more about Earth and ourselves?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments.

According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

Which statement expresses an opinion?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments.

According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

Consider the following sentence from the passage:

Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Why?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments.

According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

What is the primary argument of the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments.

According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

What is one assumption behind the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments.

According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

Which sentence responding to the passage displays faulty reasoning?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments.

According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

The paragraph in the passage about benefits to mothers contains faulty reasoning because it:

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments.

According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

Read the following sentences:

We must provide funding to expand prison nursery programs to serve all women who give birth in prison. To do otherwise would cause babies to suffer needlessly.

This would be an ineffective  conclusion to the passage above because:

Which of the following is not  clearly a form of faulty reasoning?

What is the best definition of the word argument  in the context of reading and writing?

Which of the following could not be a primary source?

Which source would provide the most credible information to a researcher interested in studying changes in farming technology since the beginning of the millennium?

Which of the following is not a primary source on Charles Darwin?

A source is considered credible if readers can __________ it.  

Which type of evidence would not be considered credible to back up arguments in a persuasive text?

What type of source is an online video of a conference presentation by a scientist reporting on the results of her research?

_____________ provide insight and commentary on the topic but may also introduce biases or errors.

Which sources are usually considered most trustworthy?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Before I came to America, I couldn’t have known how difficult it would be. I knew I would miss my mother and my friends and my language, but I didn’t know I would have to scrabble so desperately for so long to earn my place. Even when I had managed to make a living, I overworked myself with an animal terror. When I left home, I thought I was leaving poverty behind, but eventually I came to understand that I had escaped physical poverty by stepping into a poverty of the soul.

Which sequence accurately describes what happened first, second, and third in the passage?

Study the graphic element and consider the summary below to answer the following question.

A high school student is presenting research on how gender affects participation in her political science class.

Summary:  Following a month-long study of the participation levels in Political Science Class 201, the results indicate that males speak for the majority of the time. Twelve one-hour sessions took place over a course of a month. The professor lectured for approximately half the class. The professor is male, but the total time and subsequent questions taken during his lecture were subtracted to calculate the data. Only the time dedicated to post–lecture discussion was evaluated for creating the graphs and conclusion.

As a result of the research, it would be recommended to host formal debate–styled conversations. However, it may be necessary to create some, if not very specific, limitations to prevent a filibuster effect. These limitations would allow for each debate party, whoever it may consist of, to share their opinions and pose questions to the professor and class.

Male students spend _____ of class time speaking.

Study the graphic element and consider the summary below to answer the following question.

A high school student is presenting research on how gender affects participation in her political science class.

Summary: Following a month-long study of the participation levels in Political Science Class 201, the results indicate that males make up the majority of the time spent speaking. Throughout the course of the month, twelve in class lectures of one-hour sessions took place. Approximately half of the class was spent for the professor to lecture. The professor is male, but the total time and subsequent questions taken during his lecture were subtracted out to calculate the data. Only the time dedicated to post lecture discussion was evaluated for the creation of the graphs and conclusion.

As a result of the research, it would be recommended to host formal debate styled conversations. Although, it may be necessary to create some, if not very specific, limitations to prevent a filibuster effect. This would allow for each debate party, whoever it may consist of, to share their opinions and pose questions to the professor and class.

Which statement accurately describes the average number of interruptions during each class discussion?

A __________ restates the main idea of a text in different words, attributing the ideas to the author.

Study the graphic element and consider the summary below to answer the following question.

A high school student is presenting research on how gender affects participation in her political science class.

Summary: Following a month-long study of the participation levels in Political Science Class 201, the results indicate that males make up the majority of the time spent speaking. Throughout the course of the month, twelve in class lectures of one-hour sessions took place. Approximately half of the class was spent for the professor to lecture. The professor is male, but the total time and subsequent questions taken during his lecture were subtracted out to calculate the data. Only the time dedicated to post lecture discussion was evaluated for the creation of the graphs and conclusion.

As a result of the research, it would be recommended to host formal debate styled conversations. Although, it may be necessary to create some, if not very specific, limitations to prevent a filibuster effect. This would allow for each debate party, whoever it may consist of, to share their opinions and pose questions to the professor and class.

Which argument does the information in the graphs best support?

Study the flowchart below and answer the following question. 

What is the first thing the chart asks you to do if you are hungry?

Study the flowchart below and answer the following question. 

According to the flowchart, what do you need to do if you cannot afford to eat out?

A __________ would be most helpful for showing how many units of various products a business has sold.

Read the sentences below.

My tame wolf is not a danger to humans. Despite her size and alarming appearance, she is basically a big, warm hearted puppy.

What is the function of the underlined transition word in sentence two?

Read the sentences below.

Shaniqua shows clearly that she is driven to succeed as a student. ________ I have often noticed her waiting outside the library before it opens at 6:00 a.m. _________ her teachers report that she frequently asks for help outside of class.

Which words or phrases should be inserted into the blanks to provide clear transitions between these ideas?

The tone of a text is:

The tone of a text is __________ if the words say the opposite of what they really mean.

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Which adjective most accurately describes the author’s tone?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Reread the following quotation from the passage:

“Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Which adjective most accurately describes Dr. Hussein’s tone?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Reread the following quotation from the passage:

“These guys think they’re gods…They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

Which adjective most accurately describes Liz Goode’s tone?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Which phrase functions as a transition to juxtapose dissimilar ideas in the passage?