HESI A2 — All Questions

What is 3/4 + 1/6?

• a.7/12
• b.11/12✓
• c.1/2
• d.4/10

Find a common denominator of 12: 3/4 = 9/12 and 1/6 = 2/12. Adding gives 9/12 + 2/12 = 11/12, which cannot be reduced.

Subtract: 5/6 - 1/4.

• a.1/2
• b.4/2
• c.2/3
• d.7/12✓

The least common denominator is 12. Convert 5/6 to 10/12 and 1/4 to 3/12. Then 10/12 - 3/12 = 7/12.

Multiply: 2/3 x 3/5.

• a.5/8
• b.1/5
• c.1/3
• d.2/5✓

Multiply numerators and denominators: (2x3)/(3x5) = 6/15. Reducing by dividing top and bottom by 3 gives 2/5.

Divide: 3/8 divided by 1/2.

• a.3/10
• b.3/4✓
• c.3/16
• d.4/3

Dividing by a fraction means multiplying by its reciprocal: 3/8 x 2/1 = 6/8. Reducing 6/8 by 2 gives 3/4.

Convert the mixed number 2 1/4 to an improper fraction.

• a.8/4
• b.9/4✓
• c.6/4
• d.7/4

Multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator: 2 x 4 + 1 = 9. Place that over the original denominator to get 9/4.

What is 0.6 written as a fraction in lowest terms?

• a.3/5✓
• b.6/100
• c.2/3
• d.1/6

The digit 6 is in the tenths place, so 0.6 equals 6/10. Dividing numerator and denominator by 2 reduces it to 3/5.

Add the decimals: 4.25 + 3.7.

• a.8.05
• b.7.95✓
• c.7.32
• d.7.92

Align the decimal points and add: 4.25 + 3.70. The sum of the columns is 7.95.

Multiply: 0.4 x 0.05.

• a.0.002
• b.0.02✓
• c.0.2
• d.0.45

Multiply as whole numbers: 4 x 5 = 20. The two factors have a total of three decimal places, so the product is 0.020, which is 0.02.

What is 12.6 divided by 3?

• a.3.6
• b.42
• c.4.02
• d.4.2✓

Divide 12.6 by 3 by treating it as 126 divided by 3, which is 42, then place the decimal: 4.2. You can check by multiplying 4.2 x 3 = 12.6.

Round 7.348 to the nearest hundredth.

• a.7.348
• b.7.34
• c.7.4
• d.7.35✓

The hundredths digit is 4 and the digit to its right is 8. Because 8 is 5 or greater, round the 4 up to 5, giving 7.35.

Solve the proportion: 3/4 = x/20.

• a.16
• b.10
• c.12
• d.15✓

Cross multiply to get 4x = 3 x 20 = 60. Dividing both sides by 4 gives x = 15.

A recipe uses a ratio of 2 cups flour to 3 cups water. How much water is needed for 8 cups of flour?

• a.12 cups✓
• b.16 cups
• c.10 cups
• d.6 cups

Set up the proportion 2/3 = 8/x. Cross multiplying gives 2x = 24, so x = 12 cups of water.

If a car travels 150 miles on 5 gallons of gas, what is the rate in miles per gallon?

• a.30 mpg✓
• b.25 mpg
• c.35 mpg
• d.20 mpg

Divide total miles by total gallons: 150 / 5 = 30. The car travels 30 miles per gallon.

The ratio of nurses to patients is 1:8. How many nurses are needed for 56 patients?

• a.6
• b.7✓
• c.8
• d.5

Set up 1/8 = x/56. Cross multiplying gives 8x = 56, so x = 7 nurses.

What is 25% of 80?

• a.25
• b.32
• c.15
• d.20✓

Convert 25% to the decimal 0.25 and multiply: 0.25 x 80 = 20. Alternatively, 25% is one quarter, and 80 / 4 = 20.

15 is what percent of 60?

• a.15%
• b.25%✓
• c.20%
• d.30%

Divide the part by the whole: 15 / 60 = 0.25. Multiplying by 100 converts it to 25%.

A shirt costs $40 and is discounted 15%. What is the sale price?

• a.$34✓
• b.$38
• c.$25
• d.$36

The discount is 0.15 x 40 = $6. Subtracting from the original price gives 40 - 6 = $34.

A population grows from 200 to 250. What is the percent increase?

• a.30%
• b.20%
• c.25%✓
• d.50%

The increase is 250 - 200 = 50. Divide the change by the original amount: 50 / 200 = 0.25, or 25%.

Convert 0.35 to a percent.

• a.0.35%
• b.35%✓
• c.3.5%
• d.350%

To convert a decimal to a percent, multiply by 100, which moves the decimal two places right. So 0.35 becomes 35%.

How many milliliters are in 2.5 liters?

• a.0.0025 mL
• b.2500 mL✓
• c.250 mL
• d.25 mL

One liter equals 1000 milliliters. Multiplying 2.5 x 1000 gives 2500 mL.

Convert 5000 grams to kilograms.

• a.5 kg✓
• b.500 kg
• c.0.5 kg
• d.50 kg

One kilogram equals 1000 grams. Dividing 5000 by 1000 gives 5 kilograms.

A patient weighs 154 pounds. About how many kilograms is that? (1 kg = 2.2 lb)

• a.70 kg✓
• b.154 kg
• c.77 kg
• d.338.8 kg

Divide pounds by 2.2 to get kilograms: 154 / 2.2 = 70. The patient weighs about 70 kilograms.

How many milligrams are in 0.75 grams?

• a.7500 mg
• b.7.5 mg
• c.75 mg
• d.750 mg✓

One gram equals 1000 milligrams. Multiplying 0.75 x 1000 gives 750 mg.

A doctor orders 500 mg of medication. The tablets are 250 mg each. How many tablets are needed?

• a.4 tablets
• b.1 tablet
• c.3 tablets
• d.2 tablets✓

Divide the ordered dose by the dose per tablet: 500 / 250 = 2. The patient needs 2 tablets.

A solution contains 20 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters provide 60 mg?

• a.12 mL
• b.20 mL
• c.15 mL✓
• d.10 mL

Use the unit rate of 20 mg in every 5 mL. Because 60 mg is 3 times 20 mg, you need 3 x 5 = 15 mL.

Convert the temperature 37 degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit. (F = 9/5 C + 32)

• a.99.5 F
• b.100.4 F
• c.98.6 F✓
• d.96.8 F

Multiply 37 by 9/5 to get 66.6, then add 32. The result is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, normal body temperature.

What is the average (mean) of 12, 18, 15, and 15?

• a.13
• b.16
• c.14
• d.15✓

Add the values: 12 + 18 + 15 + 15 = 60. Divide by the count of four numbers: 60 / 4 = 15.

Solve for x: 4x - 3 = 21.

• a.6✓
• b.4
• c.7
• d.5

Add 3 to both sides to get 4x = 24. Dividing both sides by 4 gives x = 6.

Read the passage: 'Regular handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness. Soap and water remove germs from the skin, reducing the chance of infection. Health experts recommend washing for at least twenty seconds.' What is the main idea?

• a.Soap is expensive to buy.
• b.Germs cannot be removed from skin.
• c.People should wash for one minute.
• d.Handwashing helps prevent illness.✓

The main idea is the central point the passage develops, stated in the first sentence. The details about soap and time support that point rather than serving as the main idea.

Read the passage: 'The library will be closed on Monday for a staff training day. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday.' Which day will the library be open?

• a.Tuesday✓
• b.It never reopens
• c.Sunday
• d.Monday

The passage states normal hours resume on Tuesday, so the library is open that day. Monday is explicitly the closed day.

Read the passage: 'Maria studied every night for two weeks before her exam. When results came back, she earned the highest score in her class.' What can you infer?

• a.The exam was canceled.
• b.Maria did not care about the exam.
• c.Maria cheated on the test.
• d.Maria's studying helped her succeed.✓

An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from clues in the text. Steady studying followed by the top score implies her effort led to success, though the passage does not state it directly.

Read the passage: 'The old wooden bridge creaked with every step. Its boards were split, and rusty nails poked out at odd angles.' What is the tone of this passage?

• a.Peaceful
• b.Cheerful and bright
• c.Humorous
• d.Neglected✓

Tone is the author's attitude conveyed through word choice. Words like creaked, split, and rusty create a sense of neglect and danger.

Read the passage: 'Exercise offers many benefits. It strengthens the heart, improves mood, and helps control weight.' Which is a supporting detail, not the main idea?

• a.Exercise offers many benefits.
• b.Exercise strengthens the heart.✓
• c.The passage has no details.
• d.Exercise is the topic sentence.

The main idea is that exercise offers many benefits. The claim that it strengthens the heart is one specific detail that supports that broader statement.

Read the passage: 'Please submit your application by Friday. Late submissions will not be considered.' What is the author's purpose?

• a.To entertain the reader
• b.To state a deadline✓
• c.To describe a place
• d.To tell a story

The author's purpose is why the text was written. This passage gives a clear instruction and consequence, so its purpose is to inform readers of a deadline.

Read the passage: 'The new phone has a longer battery life than any previous model. You simply must upgrade today to enjoy the best experience ever!' Which best describes this passage?

• a.It is entirely factual.
• b.It contains persuasive opinion.✓
• c.It is a set of instructions.
• d.It is a historical account.

Persuasive writing uses opinion and emotional appeals to influence the reader. Phrases like 'must upgrade' and 'best experience ever' signal opinion rather than verifiable fact.

Read the passage: 'First, gather your supplies. Next, mix the ingredients. Finally, bake for thirty minutes.' How is this passage organized?

• a.Problem and solution
• b.Compare and contrast
• c.Cause and effect
• d.Sequential steps✓

Text structure describes how information is arranged. Signal words like first, next, and finally show the passage lists steps in sequential order.

Read the passage: 'Because the storm knocked down power lines, thousands of homes lost electricity for days.' What is the cause?

• a.The homes were rebuilt
• b.The days grew shorter
• c.Downed power lines✓
• d.Homes lost electricity

The cause is the event that makes something else happen. Here the storm knocking down power lines caused the homes to lose electricity, which is the effect.

Read the passage: 'Nursing requires both technical skill and compassion. A good nurse must master procedures while also comforting anxious patients.' What is the main idea?

• a.Procedures are difficult to learn.
• b.Nursing requires both skill and compassion.✓
• c.Nurses do not need training.
• d.Patients are always anxious.

The main idea is stated in the first sentence and reinforced by the second. The passage stresses that nursing combines technical ability with caring for patients.

Read the passage: 'Although the medicine tasted bitter, Jonah swallowed it quickly and thanked the nurse.' What can you infer about Jonah?

• a.He disliked the nurse.
• b.He was cooperative.✓
• c.He refused the medicine.
• d.He was very young.

The clues show Jonah took the unpleasant medicine and expressed thanks. This implies he was cooperative even though the taste was unpleasant.

Read the passage: 'The report was riddled with errors, submitted late, and impossible to follow.' What is the tone?

• a.Excited
• b.Neutral
• c.Critical✓
• d.Approving

Tone reflects the author's attitude. The negative descriptions of errors, lateness, and confusion create a clearly critical tone.

Read the passage: 'Water covers about seventy percent of Earth's surface, yet most of it is salt water unsuitable for drinking.' What is the topic?

• a.Ocean animals
• b.Drinking habits
• c.Earth's water✓
• d.Weather patterns

The topic is the general subject the passage discusses. This passage focuses on how much of Earth is water and how much of it can be used for drinking.

Read the passage: 'Turn off the machine before cleaning it. Failing to do so may cause serious injury.' What is implied about the machine?

• a.It can be dangerous.✓
• b.It cleans itself.
• c.It is broken.
• d.It is inexpensive.

The warning about serious injury implies the machine poses a risk if used carelessly. The instruction to turn it off first supports that inference.

Read the passage: 'Some people prefer coffee for its bold flavor, while others choose tea for its calming effect.' How is this passage organized?

• a.Compare and contrast✓
• b.Chronological order
• c.Persuasion
• d.Spatial description

The passage sets two beverages side by side and notes how they differ. Presenting similarities and differences is the compare and contrast structure.

Read the passage: 'The volunteers worked tirelessly, sorting donations late into the night without a single complaint.' Which word best describes the volunteers?

• a.Lazy
• b.Dedicated✓
• c.Indifferent
• d.Rude

The details of working tirelessly and without complaint show strong commitment. The word dedicated best captures that behavior.

Read the passage: 'A balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Skipping any group may lead to nutritional gaps.' What is the main idea?

• a.Fruits are the most important food.
• b.Grains cause nutritional gaps.
• c.Dairy should be avoided.
• d.Several food groups are needed.✓

The passage explains that a balanced diet is made up of multiple food groups. The warning about skipping a group supports this central idea.

Read the passage: 'Despite losing the first two games, the team practiced harder and won the championship.' What can you conclude?

• a.The team gave up.
• b.The championship was easy.
• c.The team never played again.
• d.Hard work helped the team recover.✓

A conclusion draws on the stated facts. The team's extra practice after early losses led to winning, showing that hard work helped them recover.

Read the passage: 'Ladies and gentlemen, the future of our city depends on your vote. Do not let this opportunity slip away!' What is the author's purpose?

• a.To describe the city's history
• b.To explain a scientific process
• c.To persuade the audience to vote✓
• d.To entertain with a joke

The urgent, emotional language is designed to move the audience to action. This shows the author's purpose is to persuade people to vote.

Read the passage: 'The instructions were vague, the deadline unclear, and the goals undefined.' Which statement is a fact from the passage?

• a.The instructions were vague.✓
• b.The project succeeded.
• c.The deadline was extended.
• d.The team was happy.

A fact is a detail directly stated in the text. The passage explicitly says the instructions were vague, while the other options are not mentioned.

Read the passage: 'The garden burst with color as tulips, daisies, and roses swayed gently in the warm spring breeze.' What is the mood?

• a.Frightening
• b.Gloomy
• c.Tense
• d.Pleasant✓

Mood is the feeling created in the reader. Images of colorful flowers and a warm, gentle breeze produce a pleasant and calm mood.

Read the passage: 'When the fire alarm sounds, exit through the nearest door and gather in the parking lot. Do not use the elevators.' What should you NOT do?

• a.Leave the building
• b.Gather in the parking lot
• c.Exit through the nearest door
• d.Use the elevators✓

The passage directly instructs readers not to use the elevators during a fire alarm. The other actions are things the passage tells you to do.

Read the passage: 'Sleep is essential for health. During sleep, the body repairs tissues and the brain consolidates memories.' Which detail supports the main idea?

• a.The brain consolidates memories.✓
• b.Sleep is a waste of time.
• c.Memories are unimportant.
• d.People need no rest.

The main idea is that sleep is essential for health. The statement that the brain consolidates memories during sleep is a specific detail that supports that idea.

Read the passage: 'The clerk sighed, glanced at the clock repeatedly, and answered questions in short, clipped phrases.' What can you infer about the clerk?

• a.The clerk was on vacation.
• b.The clerk owned the store.
• c.The clerk was impatient.✓
• d.The clerk was eager to help.

Sighing, watching the clock, and giving clipped answers are clues to the clerk's mood. Together they imply the clerk was impatient.

Read the passage: 'Recycling reduces waste in landfills, conserves natural resources, and saves energy.' What is the primary purpose?

• a.To criticize recycling
• b.To tell a personal story
• c.To sell recycling bins
• d.To inform about benefits✓

The passage lists factual benefits of recycling without persuasion or narrative. Its primary purpose is to inform readers about those benefits.

Read the passage: 'The hallway stretched on endlessly, its flickering lights casting long shadows on the silent, empty walls.' What is the tone?

• a.Businesslike
• b.Eerie✓
• c.Joyful
• d.Romantic

Tone comes from descriptive word choices. Flickering lights, long shadows, and silence create an eerie, unsettling tone.

Read the passage: 'Vaccines train the immune system to recognize harmful germs. As a result, the body can fight infection more quickly if exposed later.' What relationship is shown?

• a.Order of importance
• b.Compare and contrast
• c.Spatial order
• d.Cause and effect✓

The phrase 'as a result' signals a cause and effect relationship. Vaccines training the immune system is the cause, and faster infection fighting is the effect.

Read the passage: 'Ella packed her bags days early, checked her passport twice, and set three alarms.' What can you infer about Ella?

• a.She dreaded the trip.
• b.She was disorganized.
• c.She missed her flight.
• d.She was careful and prepared.✓

Packing early, double-checking documents, and setting multiple alarms are clues to Ella's habits. They imply she was careful and well prepared.

The biopsy showed that the growth was benign. Which word best replaces 'benign'?

• a.Cancerous
• b.Contagious
• c.Painful
• d.Harmless✓

In medicine, benign describes a growth or condition that is not dangerous and does not spread. It is the opposite of malignant, which refers to cancerous tissue.

The patient appeared lethargic during the assessment. Which word best replaces 'lethargic'?

• a.Talkative
• b.Agitated
• c.Drowsy✓
• d.Energetic

Lethargic means lacking energy and appearing sluggish or drowsy. A lethargic patient moves and responds slowly.

She was treated for a chronic condition. Which word best replaces 'chronic'?

• a.Transient
• b.Reversible
• c.Localized
• d.Persistent✓

Chronic describes a condition that lasts a long time or recurs frequently. It contrasts with acute, which means sudden and short-lived.

He was admitted with an acute illness. Which word best replaces 'acute'?

• a.Painless
• b.Sudden✓
• c.Imagined
• d.Lingering

An acute illness comes on suddenly and is often severe but short in duration. This is the opposite of a chronic condition.

The nurse will palpate the abdomen. Which word best replaces 'palpate'?

• a.Photograph
• b.Feel✓
• c.Remove
• d.Numb

Palpate means to examine part of the body by feeling it with the hands or fingers. Nurses palpate to assess texture, size, or tenderness.

The chart noted edema in both ankles. Which word best replaces 'edema'?

• a.Fever
• b.Fracture
• c.Rash
• d.Swelling✓

Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in body tissues. It often appears in the legs, ankles, or feet.

The illness is highly contagious. Which word best replaces 'contagious'?

• a.Harmless
• b.Infectious✓
• c.Incurable
• d.Chronic

Contagious means an illness can be spread from one person to another, often by contact. Many infections caused by viruses are contagious.

In dim light the pupils dilate. Which word best replaces 'dilate'?

• a.Widen✓
• b.Shatter
• c.Close
• d.Harden

Dilate means to become wider or larger. For example, pupils dilate in dim light to let in more light.

Surgery requires a sterile field. Which word best replaces 'sterile'?

• a.Frozen
• b.Crowded
• c.Contaminated
• d.Germ-free✓

Sterile means completely free from living microorganisms such as bacteria. Sterile conditions are essential during surgery to prevent infection.

Patients must abstain from food before the test. Which word best replaces 'abstain'?

• a.Refrain✓
• b.Demand
• c.Depend
• d.Enjoy

To abstain is to choose not to do or consume something. For example, a patient may abstain from food before a blood test.

The surgeon closed the incision. Which word best replaces 'incision'?

• a.Cut✓
• b.Medication
• c.Bandage
• d.Organ

An incision is a cut made into body tissue, usually during surgery. Surgeons make an incision to reach the area they need to treat.

The medication may cause nausea. Which word best replaces 'nausea'?

• a.Lightheadedness
• b.Soreness
• c.Queasiness✓
• d.Rash

Nausea is the uncomfortable sensation of feeling sick to the stomach, often with the urge to vomit. It can be caused by illness, motion, or medication.

The patient agreed to comply with the treatment plan. Which word best replaces 'comply'?

• a.Ignore
• b.Obey✓
• c.Rewrite
• d.Question

To comply is to act in accordance with a rule or request. A patient who complies follows the treatment plan as directed.

This is a potent medication. Which word best replaces 'potent'?

• a.Weak
• b.Colorful
• c.Powerful✓
• d.Costly

Potent describes something that has a strong or powerful effect. A potent medication produces a strong result even in small doses.

Fatigue was her first symptom. Which word best replaces 'symptom'?

• a.Sign✓
• b.Physician
• c.Instrument
• d.Cure

A symptom is evidence of a disease or disorder that the patient feels or notices, such as pain or fatigue. Symptoms help identify what may be wrong.

Smoking can exacerbate a respiratory illness. Which word best replaces 'exacerbate'?

• a.Diagnose
• b.Worsen✓
• c.Cure
• d.Overlook

Exacerbate means to make a problem or condition more severe. For example, smoking can exacerbate a respiratory illness.

A patient who is well hydrated has:

• a.Enough body fluid✓
• b.A high temperature
• c.An active infection
• d.Low body weight

Hydrated means having enough fluid in the body to function properly. Staying hydrated is important for health, especially in hot weather.

The dressing was transparent. Which word best replaces 'transparent'?

• a.Loud
• b.Heavy
• c.Toxic
• d.Clear✓

Transparent means clear enough that light passes through and objects behind it can be seen. Glass and clean water are transparent.

The nurse will monitor his vital signs. Which word best replaces 'monitor'?

• a.Feed
• b.Transport
• c.Observe✓
• d.Discharge

To monitor is to observe and check something regularly over a period of time. Nurses monitor vital signs to track a patient's condition.

The patient reported severe fatigue. Which word best replaces 'fatigue'?

• a.Restlessness
• b.Hunger
• c.Confusion
• d.Exhaustion✓

Fatigue is a state of extreme tiredness or exhaustion. It can result from illness, overwork, or lack of sleep.

The physician discussed the prognosis. Which word best replaces 'prognosis'?

• a.Prescription
• b.Forecast✓
• c.Department
• d.Instrument

A prognosis is a medical prediction about how a disease will develop and the chance of recovery. It differs from a diagnosis, which identifies the condition.

The kidneys excrete waste. Which word best replaces 'excrete'?

• a.Eliminate✓
• b.Synthesize
• c.Circulate
• d.Neutralize

To excrete is to remove waste products from the body. The kidneys, for example, excrete waste through urine.

The tissue around the wound was inflamed. Which word best replaces 'inflamed'?

• a.Numb
• b.Swollen✓
• c.Pale
• d.Unaffected

Inflamed tissue is red, warm, swollen, and often painful as part of the body's response to injury or infection. Inflammation is a natural defense reaction.

Medication was given to alleviate the pain. Which word best replaces 'alleviate'?

• a.Cause
• b.Measure
• c.Relieve✓
• d.Intensify

Alleviate means to make something less severe or more bearable. Pain medication is given to alleviate a patient's discomfort.

Choose the correct sentence.

• a.The nurse and the doctor is both present.
• b.The nurse and the doctor were both present.✓
• c.The nurse and the doctor be both present.
• d.The nurse and the doctor was both present.

A compound subject joined by 'and' is plural and takes a plural verb. 'The nurse and the doctor' requires 'were,' not 'was.'

Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

• a.Each of the students have lockers.
• b.Each of the student have a locker.
• c.Each of the students has a locker.✓
• d.Each of the students have a locker.

The subject 'each' is singular, even when followed by a plural prepositional phrase. It therefore takes the singular verb 'has.'

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

• a.The patients chart is on the desk.
• b.The patient's chart is on the desk.✓
• c.The patients' chart's are ready.
• d.The patients chart's is ready.

A singular possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe plus s. 'The patient's chart' correctly shows that the chart belongs to one patient.

Choose the sentence with correct comma usage.

• a.Before the exam, we reviewed our notes carefully.✓
• b.Before the exam we reviewed, our notes carefully.
• c.Before, the exam we reviewed our notes carefully.
• d.Before the exam we reviewed our notes carefully.

An introductory phrase should be followed by a comma to separate it from the main clause. The comma correctly follows 'Before the exam.'

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The medication had a strong effect on ___ recovery.'

• a.they're
• b.there
• c.their✓
• d.they

The possessive pronoun 'their' shows ownership of the recovery. 'There' refers to place and 'they're' means 'they are,' so neither fits.

Choose the correct verb tense: 'Yesterday, the nurse ___ the patient's blood pressure.'

• a.checking
• b.will check
• c.checked✓
• d.checks

The word 'yesterday' signals a completed past action, which calls for the simple past tense. 'Checked' is the correct past-tense form.

Which sentence is free of errors?

• a.I and him studied together.
• b.Him and me studied together.
• c.He and I studied together.✓
• d.Me and him studied together.

Subjects of a sentence require subject pronouns. 'He and I' are both subject pronouns and are correct, while 'me' and 'him' are object forms.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.

• a.We need the following supplies gloves, masks, and gowns.
• b.We need the following supplies; gloves, masks, and gowns.
• c.We need the following supplies: gloves, masks, and gowns.✓
• d.We need the following supplies: gloves masks and gowns.

A colon introduces a list after a complete sentence, and commas separate the items. The first option uses both correctly.

Choose the word that completes the sentence: 'She performed ___ than her classmate on the test.'

• a.good
• b.better✓
• c.best
• d.more good

When comparing two people, use the comparative form. 'Better' is the correct comparative of 'good,' while 'best' is used for three or more.

Which sentence uses 'its' and 'it's' correctly?

• a.Its raining, so bring its umbrella.
• b.It's raining, so bring it's umbrella.
• c.Its raining, so bring it's umbrella.
• d.It's raining, so bring its umbrella.✓

'It's' is a contraction of 'it is,' and 'its' is the possessive pronoun. The sentence correctly uses 'It's raining' and 'its umbrella.'

Identify the correctly written sentence.

• a.Neither the doctor nor the nurses am available.
• b.Neither the doctor nor the nurses is available.
• c.Neither the doctor nor the nurses be available.
• d.Neither the doctor nor the nurses are available.✓

In 'neither/nor' constructions, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Because 'nurses' is plural, the verb should be 'are.'

Choose the sentence with correct capitalization.

• a.We visited the Pacific Ocean in july.
• b.We visited the Pacific Ocean in July.✓
• c.We visited the pacific ocean in July.
• d.we visited the pacific ocean in july.

Proper nouns and the names of months are capitalized. 'Pacific Ocean' and 'July' both require capital letters.

Which sentence avoids a double negative?

• a.I never saw nothing.
• b.I don't want no help.
• c.I didn't see anything.✓
• d.I didn't see nothing.

Standard English uses only one negative to express a negative idea. 'I didn't see anything' is correct, while the others combine two negatives.

Select the sentence with the correct pronoun.

• a.The gift was given to my sister and me.✓
• b.The gift was given to I and my sister.
• c.The gift was given to my sister and myself.
• d.The gift was given to my sister and I.

After a preposition like 'to,' use the object pronoun 'me.' 'To my sister and me' is correct because both are objects of the preposition.

Choose the correctly spelled word to complete: 'The patient needs to ___ the form before surgery.'

• a.receeve
• b.receive✓
• c.recieve
• d.receve

The word follows the spelling rule 'i before e except after c.' Because it follows a c, the correct spelling is 'receive.'

Which sentence is a complete sentence, not a fragment?

• a.Running quickly down the long hallway.
• b.After the shift ended late.
• c.Because the alarm sounded loudly.
• d.The nurse answered the call.✓

A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb and expresses a full thought. 'The nurse answered the call' has both, while the others are fragments.

Choose the correct homophone: 'Please place the chart over ___.'

• a.theyre
• b.there✓
• c.they're
• d.their

'There' refers to a place or location, which fits this sentence. 'Their' is possessive and 'they're' means 'they are.'

Select the sentence that corrects the run-on: 'The test was hard I still passed.'

• a.The test was hard I still passed.
• b.The test was hard I, still passed.
• c.The test was hard, I still passed.
• d.The test was hard; I still passed.✓

Two independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon. 'The test was hard; I still passed' correctly fixes the run-on, while a comma alone would create a comma splice.

Which sentence uses an adverb correctly?

• a.The nurse spoke quiet and calm words loud.
• b.The nurse spoke quietness to the patient.
• c.The nurse spoke quietly to the patient.✓
• d.The nurse spoke quiet to the patient.

An adverb modifies a verb and often ends in -ly. 'Quietly' correctly describes how the nurse spoke, while 'quiet' is an adjective.

Choose the sentence with correct parallel structure.

• a.She likes read, write, and to jog.
• b.She likes reading, to write, and jogging.
• c.She likes to read, writing, and to jog.
• d.She likes reading, writing, and jogging.✓

Parallel structure requires items in a list to share the same grammatical form. All three items appear as -ing gerunds: reading, writing, and jogging.

Which organelle is known as the 'powerhouse of the cell'?

• a.Nucleus
• b.Golgi apparatus
• c.Ribosome
• d.Mitochondrion✓

The mitochondrion produces most of the cell's energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration. This role earns it the nickname powerhouse of the cell.

What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms?

• a.The tissue
• b.The cell✓
• c.The atom
• d.The organ

The cell is the smallest unit that can carry out all life processes. All living organisms are made of one or more cells.

Which blood cells are primarily responsible for carrying oxygen?

• a.Red blood cells✓
• b.Plasma cells
• c.Platelets
• d.White blood cells

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen. They transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues.

At 25 degrees C, what is the pH of a neutral solution such as pure water?

• a.7✓
• b.1
• c.0
• d.14

At 25 degrees C the pH scale runs 0 to 14, with 7 neutral, values below 7 acidic, and values above 7 basic. Pure water is neutral at pH 7 at this temperature. Water stays neutral at other temperatures, but the neutral pH value shifts slightly because the ionization of water is temperature dependent.

Which system is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body?

• a.The respiratory system
• b.The digestive system
• c.The skeletal system
• d.The circulatory system✓

The circulatory system, centered on the heart and blood vessels, moves blood throughout the body. It delivers oxygen and nutrients and removes wastes.

What gas do humans breathe in that is essential for cellular respiration?

• a.Oxygen✓
• b.Helium
• c.Nitrogen
• d.Carbon dioxide

Cells use oxygen to break down glucose and release energy during cellular respiration. Humans inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Which part of the cell contains the genetic material (DNA)?

• a.The nucleus✓
• b.The cytoplasm
• c.The cell membrane
• d.The vacuole

The nucleus houses the cell's DNA, which carries genetic instructions. It acts as the control center that directs cell activities.

What is the smallest unit of an element that retains its properties?

• a.A molecule
• b.A tissue
• c.A cell
• d.An atom✓

An atom is the smallest particle of an element that still has the properties of that element. Atoms combine to form molecules.

Which type of blood vessel carries blood away from the heart?

• a.Veins
• b.Venules
• c.Arteries✓
• d.Capillaries

Arteries carry blood away from the heart to the body's tissues. Veins, by contrast, return blood to the heart.

What is the largest organ of the human body?

• a.The heart
• b.The skin✓
• c.The liver
• d.The lungs

The skin is the body's largest organ by weight, making up roughly 16 percent of body mass. It protects the body, helps regulate temperature, and provides sensation.

Which nutrient is the body's primary source of quick energy?

• a.Carbohydrates✓
• b.Triglycerides
• c.Electrolytes
• d.Amino acids

Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which cells use for quick energy. They are the body's preferred and fastest energy source.

In chemistry, a substance that donates hydrogen ions and has a pH below 7 is called:

• a.An acid✓
• b.A base
• c.A salt
• d.A neutral

An acid releases hydrogen ions in solution and has a pH lower than 7. Bases, in contrast, have a pH above 7.

Which system includes bones, joints, and cartilage that support the body?

• a.The skeletal system✓
• b.The endocrine system
• c.The nervous system
• d.The muscular system

The skeletal system is made up of bones, joints, and cartilage. It provides structure, protects organs, and allows movement together with muscles.

What process do plants use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?

• a.Digestion
• b.Fermentation
• c.Respiration
• d.Photosynthesis✓

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose and oxygen. It converts light energy into stored chemical energy.

Which organ filters waste from the blood and produces urine?

• a.The lungs
• b.The stomach
• c.The kidney✓
• d.The pancreas

The kidneys filter waste products and excess water from the blood, forming urine. This helps maintain the body's fluid and chemical balance.

What is the control center of the nervous system?

• a.The brain✓
• b.The heart
• c.The liver
• d.The lungs

The brain, along with the spinal cord, forms the central nervous system. The brain processes information and directs the body's responses.

Which of the following is a chemical change rather than a physical change?

• a.Ice melting
• b.Chopping wood
• c.Water boiling
• d.Iron rusting✓

A chemical change produces a new substance with different properties. Iron rusting forms iron oxide, whereas melting, boiling, and chopping only change form.

Which macromolecule is made of amino acids and builds body tissues?

• a.Nucleic acid
• b.Carbohydrate
• c.Protein✓
• d.Lipid

Proteins are built from chains of amino acids. They form the structural basis of muscles, enzymes, and many other body tissues.

How many chambers does the human heart have?

• a.Four✓
• b.Two
• c.Three
• d.Five

The human heart has four chambers: two upper atria and two lower ventricles. This structure keeps oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood separated.

Which particle in an atom carries a negative electric charge?

• a.Nucleus
• b.Neutron
• c.Electron✓
• d.Proton

Electrons carry a negative charge and occupy orbitals, which are regions of space surrounding the nucleus where an electron is most likely to be found. Protons are positive and neutrons have no charge.