HESI A2 — All Questions

The committee decided the plan was not feasible. Feasible means:

• a.likely to be popular
• b.able to be done✓
• c.already completed
• d.legally required

Feasible describes something practical to carry out with the resources available. Popularity, completion and legal obligation are separate questions from whether a thing can be done at all.

Heavy traffic hindered the ambulance. To hinder means to:

• a.slow or obstruct✓
• b.guide safely
• c.speed along
• d.follow closely

To hinder is to get in the way and make progress harder. Guiding and speeding along would help rather than obstruct, and following closely describes position rather than interference.

It is imperative that the patient take the full course of antibiotics. Imperative means:

• a.strongly discouraged
• b.absolutely necessary✓
• c.merely suggested
• d.occasionally helpful

An imperative instruction leaves no room for choice. Something discouraged is being argued against, a suggestion may be declined, and occasional help falls far short of necessity.

The technician kept meticulous records. Meticulous means:

• a.written by hand each day
• b.stored in a locked cabinet
• c.extremely careful about detail✓
• d.shared with the whole team

Meticulous describes painstaking attention to small details. How the records were written, where they were kept and who saw them are all separate facts that the word does not convey.

The equipment was obsolete and had to be replaced. Obsolete means:

• a.too expensive
• b.recently purchased
• c.out of date✓
• d.in constant use

Obsolete equipment has been superseded and is no longer the current standard, whether or not it still works. Cost, recent purchase and heavy use are all unrelated to whether something has been outdated.

Her explanation was plausible, though no one could confirm it. Plausible means:

• a.believable✓
• b.proven true
• c.clearly false
• d.deliberately vague

A plausible account sounds reasonable on its face without being verified, which is why the sentence adds that no one could confirm it. Proven and false are both verdicts the sentence explicitly withholds, and vagueness describes the form rather than the credibility.

It would be prudent to check the dose a second time. Prudent means:

• a.sensible and cautious✓
• b.quick and efficient
• c.bold and decisive
• d.required by law

A prudent action shows careful judgement and avoids unnecessary risk. Speed and boldness may be virtues elsewhere but are not what the word means, and prudence is a matter of judgement rather than legal obligation.

He was reluctant to ask for pain medication. Reluctant means:

• a.eager
• b.unwilling✓
• c.unable
• d.forgetful

Reluctance is hesitation about doing something one could do. Eagerness is the opposite feeling, inability is a matter of capacity rather than willingness, and forgetting is not a choice at all.

The change in the patient's colour was subtle. Subtle means:

• a.sudden and alarming
• b.widespread over the body
• c.slight and easily missed✓
• d.painful to the touch

A subtle change is faint enough that only a careful observer notices it. Sudden, widespread and painful all describe changes that would be obvious rather than easily overlooked.

Which word best completes the sentence? 'Staff remained ___ throughout the night, checking the monitor every few minutes.'

• a.idle
• b.reckless
• c.vigilant✓
• d.detached

Vigilant means alert and watchful, which frequent checking demonstrates. Idle means doing nothing, reckless means careless of risk, and detached means emotionally uninvolved.

The instructions were ambiguous, so two nurses read them differently. Ambiguous means:

• a.open to more than one meaning✓
• b.written in very small print
• c.much too long to read
• d.printed in another language

Ambiguous wording can be understood in more than one way, which is why the two readings differed. Small print, excessive length and a foreign language all make text hard to read without making its meaning double.

The instructor asked for a concise summary. Concise means:

• a.handwritten and signed
• b.detailed and thorough
• c.brief and to the point✓
• d.spoken rather than written

A concise summary says what is needed in few words. Detail and thoroughness pull in the opposite direction, and how the summary is produced or delivered is not part of the meaning.

The patient's condition began to deteriorate overnight. To deteriorate is to:

• a.improve steadily
• b.remain unchanged
• c.become more stable
• d.grow worse✓

Deterioration is decline, which is why it prompts a call to the physician. Improvement and increasing stability describe the opposite direction, and remaining unchanged would be no deterioration at all.

He reported sporadic chest pain over several months. Sporadic means:

• a.happening constantly
• b.growing worse each day
• c.happening now and then✓
• d.lasting several hours

Sporadic events occur at irregular, scattered intervals rather than continuously. Constant pain, steadily worsening pain and pain of a particular duration are each described with different words.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The box of sterile gloves ___ on the top shelf.'

• a.are
• b.is✓
• c.were
• d.have been

The subject is box, which is singular; the phrase of sterile gloves only describes it and cannot change the verb. Are, were and have been are all plural forms that agree with gloves rather than with the true subject.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Each of the nurses ___ completed the training module.'

• a.has✓
• b.have
• c.are
• d.were

Each is always singular, so it takes has no matter how many nurses follow it. Have and were agree with the plural noun in the prepositional phrase, and are cannot be paired with a past participle like completed.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Neither the surgeon nor the residents ___ available this afternoon.'

• a.is
• b.was
• c.are✓
• d.has been

With neither and nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it, and residents is plural. Is, was and has been would be correct only if the nearer subject were singular, as in neither the residents nor the surgeon is available.

Which sentence shows correct verb agreement in a sentence beginning with 'there'?

• a.There is several reasons for the delay.
• b.There have several reasons for the delay.
• c.There be several reasons for the delay.
• d.There are several reasons for the delay.✓

In a sentence beginning with there, the verb agrees with what follows it, and reasons is plural, so are is required. Is agrees with a singular noun, while have and be in these forms are not grammatical here at all.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'A list of approved medications ___ posted in the break room.'

• a.was✓
• b.were
• c.have
• d.are being

The subject is list, a singular noun, so the singular past form was is needed. The plural medications sits inside a prepositional phrase and never controls the verb, which is what makes were and are being tempting but wrong.

Which sentence uses the correct pronoun after the preposition 'to'?

• a.The schedule was sent to Maria and I.
• b.The schedule was sent to Maria and myself.
• c.The schedule was sent to Maria and me.✓
• d.The schedule was sent to I and Maria.

After a preposition the object pronoun me is required; test it by dropping Maria, which leaves sent to me. Myself is a reflexive form that can only be used when the same person is also the subject of the sentence.

Which sentence uses the correct pronoun after 'between'?

• a.This matter is between you and I.
• b.This matter is between you and myself.
• c.This matter is between you and me.✓
• d.This matter is between yourself and I.

Between is a preposition, so both pronouns after it must be object forms, giving you and me. The form I is a subject pronoun, and the reflexive forms myself and yourself need a matching subject earlier in the sentence.

Which sentence avoids an unclear pronoun reference?

• a.When Jan spoke with Maria, she was already upset.
• b.When Jan spoke with Maria, Maria was already upset.✓
• c.When Jan spoke with her, she was already upset.
• d.When she spoke with Maria, she was already upset.

Naming the person removes any doubt about who was upset. In each of the other versions she could refer to either woman, and a pronoun with two possible antecedents is ambiguous even when the writer knows what was meant.

Which sentence is correct?

• a.To who should I give the completed form?
• b.To whom should I give the completed form?✓
• c.To whomever should I give the completed form?
• d.Who should I give the completed form to whom?

Whom is the object form, and here it is the object of the preposition to. Who is the subject form, whomever adds an unneeded ending, and the last version uses both words for the same role.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? '___ chart is lying open on the desk?'

• a.Who's
• b.Whos
• c.Whose's
• d.Whose✓

Whose shows possession and asks which person the chart belongs to. Who's is a contraction of who is, which would produce who is chart, and the remaining spellings are not words.

Which sentence keeps a consistent verb tense?

• a.She walked into the room and saw the patient sitting up.✓
• b.She walked into the room and sees the patient sitting up.
• c.She walks into the room and saw the patient sitting up.
• d.She has walked into the room and sees the patient sat up.

Both actions happened at the same time in the past, so both verbs should be past tense. Mixing walked with sees, or walks with saw, shifts the time frame in the middle of a single sentence.

Which sentence uses the correct verb form after 'should'?

• a.He should of gone to the clinic sooner.
• b.He should have went to the clinic sooner.
• c.He should have gone to the clinic sooner.✓
• d.He should of went to the clinic sooner.

The correct form is should have, and the past participle of go is gone. Should of only imitates the sound of the contraction should've, and went is the simple past, which cannot follow have.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Please ___ down until the dizziness passes.'

• a.lay
• b.laid
• c.lie✓
• d.lain

Lie means to recline and takes no object, which is what this sentence needs. Lay means to place something and requires an object, while laid and lain are past forms that do not fit a present-tense instruction.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Please ___ the chart on the counter when you are finished.'

• a.lie
• b.lain
• c.lied
• d.lay✓

Lay means to put something down and takes an object, and here the object is the chart. Lie means to recline and cannot take an object, lain is a past participle, and lied means told an untruth.

Which sentence uses 'fewer' and 'less' correctly?

• a.Less patients were admitted this week, so there is fewer paperwork.
• b.Fewer patients were admitted this week, so there is fewer paperwork.
• c.Fewer patients were admitted this week, so there is less paperwork.✓
• d.Less patients were admitted this week, so there is less paperwork.

Fewer is used for things that can be counted one by one, such as patients, and less is used for quantities that cannot, such as paperwork. Each of the other sentences reverses one or both of those rules.

Which sentence uses 'good' or 'well' correctly?

• a.She did good on the practice test.
• b.She did very good on the practice test.
• c.She did well on the practice test.✓
• d.She done well on the practice test.

Well is the adverb needed to describe how she performed; good is an adjective and cannot modify the verb did. 'She done well' also uses done without a helping verb, which is not standard English.

Which sentence corrects the misplaced modifier in 'Running down the hall, the cart was knocked over by the aide.'?

• a.The cart, running down the hall, was knocked over by the aide.
• b.Running down the hall, the cart was knocked by the aide over.
• c.The cart was knocked over, running down the hall, by the aide.
• d.Running down the hall, the aide knocked over the cart.✓

An introductory participial phrase must describe the subject that follows it, and only a person can run down a hall. Every other version still leaves the cart doing the running, or simply moves words without fixing who is running.

Which sentence corrects the dangling modifier in 'After reviewing the chart, the medication was given.'?

• a.After reviewing the chart, the medication was given by the nurse.
• b.The medication was given, after reviewing the chart.
• c.After the chart was reviewing, the nurse gave the medication.
• d.After reviewing the chart, the nurse gave the medication.✓

The opening phrase needs a subject that can actually review a chart, so the nurse must come first. Keeping the passive construction leaves the medication doing the reviewing, and the last version reverses the verb into an ungrammatical form.

Which sentence correctly punctuates the introductory clause?

• a.After the surgery was over the family met with the physician.
• b.After the surgery was over, the family met with the physician.✓
• c.After the surgery, was over the family met with the physician.
• d.After, the surgery was over the family met with the physician.

An introductory dependent clause is followed by a comma, and the clause ends at over. Leaving the comma out runs the two clauses together, and the other placements cut the introductory clause in the middle.

Which sentence correctly places the comma before a conjunction joining two clauses?

• a.The results came back quickly but, the physician had already left.
• b.The results came back quickly, but, the physician had already left.
• c.The results came back quickly but the physician, had already left.
• d.The results came back quickly, but the physician had already left.✓

When a coordinating conjunction such as but joins two complete sentences, the comma goes before the conjunction. Placing it after but, doubling it, or dropping it in front of a subject all misplace the pause.

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

• a.The ward was quiet; every patient was asleep.✓
• b.The ward was quiet; and every patient was asleep.
• c.The ward was quiet; because every patient was asleep.
• d.The ward was quiet, every patient was asleep.

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that could each stand alone. Adding and after it makes the semicolon unnecessary, because introduces a dependent clause that needs a comma instead, and the last version is a comma splice.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• a.The exam was difficult, however, she passed on her first attempt.
• b.The exam was difficult; however she passed on her first attempt.
• c.The exam was difficult; however, she passed on her first attempt.✓
• d.The exam was difficult however; she passed on her first attempt.

However linking two independent clauses needs a semicolon before it and a comma after it. Using commas on both sides creates a comma splice, and moving the semicolon after however separates it from the clause it introduces.

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

• a.Bring the following items: identification, insurance card and a list of medications.✓
• b.Bring the following: items identification, insurance card and a list of medications.
• c.Bring: identification, insurance card and a list of medications.
• d.Bring the following items, identification: insurance card and a list of medications.

A colon follows a complete statement and introduces the list that explains it. Splitting the phrase following items, putting a colon straight after a verb, or burying the colon inside the list all break that rule.

Which sentence shows correct plural possession?

• a.The nurse's station was moved to the second floor.
• b.The nurses' station was moved to the second floor.✓
• c.The nurses's station was moved to the second floor.
• d.The nurses station was moved to the second floor.

A plural noun already ending in s takes only an apostrophe after it, giving nurses' station for a station shared by several nurses. Nurse's would mean a single nurse, nurses's is never correct, and omitting the apostrophe removes the possession altogether.

Which of the following is a sentence fragment?

• a.The laboratory was closed on Sunday.
• b.Because the laboratory was closed on Sunday.✓
• c.The laboratory closed early, so the sample waited.
• d.Closed on Sunday, the laboratory reopened Monday.

Because turns the group of words into a dependent clause with no main clause to attach to, so it cannot stand alone. The other three each contain a subject and a verb that make a complete statement.

Which sentence corrects the run-on 'The monitor alarmed the nurse responded immediately.'?

• a.The monitor alarmed, so the nurse responded immediately.✓
• b.The monitor alarmed, the nurse responded immediately.
• c.The monitor alarmed the nurse, responded immediately.
• d.The monitor alarmed the nurse responded, immediately.

Two independent clauses need a comma plus a joining word, or a semicolon, or a full stop. A comma by itself makes a comma splice, and the last two versions simply drop a comma into the middle of a clause without separating them.

Which sentence uses their, there and they're correctly?

• a.They're leaving their charts over there on the counter.✓
• b.Their leaving there charts over they're on the counter.
• c.There leaving their charts over they're on the counter.
• d.They're leaving there charts over their on the counter.

They're is the contraction of they are, their shows possession, and there points to a place. Each incorrect version swaps at least two of the three, which changes the meaning into nonsense.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? '___ going to need a second signature on that form.'

• a.Your
• b.Yours
• c.You're✓
• d.Youre

You're is the contraction of you are, which is what the sentence needs before going. Your shows possession, yours is a possessive pronoun standing alone, and the last spelling is missing its apostrophe.

Which sentence uses accept and except correctly?

• a.Everyone accept the night staff will except the new schedule.
• b.Everyone except the night staff will except the new schedule.
• c.Everyone accept the night staff will accept the new schedule.
• d.Everyone except the night staff will accept the new schedule.✓

Accept is a verb meaning to receive or agree to, while except is a preposition meaning apart from. The other versions use one word in place of the other, leaving the sentence without a working verb or without a working preposition.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Lack of sleep can ___ a student's concentration.'

• a.effect
• b.affects
• c.affect✓
• d.effected

Affect is the verb meaning to influence, and a verb is what follows the helping word can. Effect is normally the noun for the result, and the inflected forms affects and effected cannot follow can.

Which sentence uses than and then correctly?

• a.She finished sooner than expected, and then she reviewed her answers.✓
• b.She finished sooner then expected, and than she reviewed her answers.
• c.She finished sooner then expected, and then she reviewed her answers.
• d.She finished sooner than expected, and than she reviewed her answers.

Than makes a comparison, while then refers to time or sequence. Each wrong version swaps one word for the other, which either compares nothing or places the comparison where a time word belongs.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Honesty is the guiding ___ of the profession.'

• a.principal
• b.principals
• c.principled
• d.principle✓

A principle is a rule or belief, which is what honesty is being called here. A principal is a person in charge or the main amount of a loan, and the remaining forms are a plural noun and an adjective.

Which sentence uses passed and past correctly?

• a.She past the clinic on her way home and thought about the passed year.
• b.She passed the clinic on her way home and thought about the passed year.
• c.She passed the clinic on her way home and thought about the past year.✓
• d.She past the clinic on her way home and thought about the past year.

Passed is the past tense of the verb to pass, and past refers to an earlier time or to going by something. Using past as the verb leaves the sentence without any action, and passed cannot modify the noun year.

Which sentence uses to, too and two correctly?

• a.She went too the pharmacy to pick up to prescriptions, and I went two.
• b.She went to the pharmacy to pick up two prescriptions, and I went too.✓
• c.She went to the pharmacy too pick up too prescriptions, and I went to.
• d.She went two the pharmacy to pick up too prescriptions, and I went too.

To is the preposition and the marker of an infinitive, too means also, and two is the number. Each wrong version puts a sound-alike word where it carries no sensible meaning, such as going too the pharmacy or picking up to prescriptions.

Which sentence correctly compares exactly two people?

• a.Of the two candidates, she is the tallest.
• b.Of the two candidates, she is more taller.
• c.Of the two candidates, she is the taller.✓
• d.Of the two candidates, she is the most tall.

The comparative form taller is used when exactly two things are compared, and the superlative tallest is reserved for three or more. Combining more with taller doubles the comparison, and most tall is not idiomatic English.

Which sentence uses 'me' and 'myself' correctly?

• a.Please send the report to Dr. Lee or myself.
• b.Please send the report to Dr. Lee or I.
• c.Please send the report to myself or Dr. Lee.
• d.Please send the report to Dr. Lee or me.✓

Me is the object pronoun needed after the preposition to. Myself is reflexive and can only be used when the speaker is also the subject, as in I gave myself time, and I is a subject pronoun that cannot serve as an object.