HESI A2
HESI A2 Reading Comprehension V1 2024
1. What are the three steps of the 'wave of excitation'?
- A. The discharge from the SA node, the peak ECG, and the excitement of the ventricle.
- B. The excitement of the ventricle, the relaxing of the ventricle, and the systemic neural response.
- C. The contraction of the atrium, the relaxation of the atrium, and the contraction of the ventricle.
- D. The excitation of the atrium, the excitement of the ventricle, and the relaxing of the ventricle.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct steps of the 'wave of excitation' are the excitation of the atrium, excitement of the ventricle, and relaxation of the ventricle. In the described process, the 'wave of excitation' starts with the discharge from the SA node, leading to the excitation of the atrium. Next, the peak ECG corresponds to the excitement of the ventricle, not its relaxation. Finally, the wave concludes with the relaxation of the ventricle, not its contraction. Therefore, choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the sequential steps of the 'wave of excitation' as presented in the extract.
2. What is the meaning of the word 'technical' as it is used in the fourth paragraph?
- A. requiring expert knowledge
- B. incomplete
- C. foreign
- D. plagiarized
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'A: requiring expert knowledge.' In the context provided, 'technical' refers to articles that demand expert knowledge to understand. The passage mentions that articles published in medical journals can be technical, meaning they are complex and require specialized expertise to comprehend. Choice B, 'incomplete,' is incorrect as 'technical' does not imply incompleteness. Choices C and D, 'foreign' and 'plagiarized,' are also incorrect as they do not align with the context of the passage.
3. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing the essay?
- A. To persuade the reader to have an ECG
- B. To entertain the reader with a heartwarming story
- C. To inform the reader how an electrocardiograph reads the electric currents emitted by the heart
- D. To analyze the difference between the SA node and the AV node
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The author's primary purpose in writing the essay is to inform the reader about how an electrocardiograph reads the electric currents emitted by the heart. Choice A is incorrect because there is no attempt to persuade the reader to have an ECG. Choice B is incorrect because the essay is focused on providing information rather than entertaining with a heartwarming story. Choice D is incorrect as the essay does not primarily analyze the difference between the SA node and the AV node; instead, it focuses on explaining how an electrocardiograph reads electric currents from the heart.
4. Which statement is not listed as a detail within the passage?
- A. Changes in the ECG are typically used for the diagnosis of abnormal cardiac rhythm.
- B. The signal has a characteristic record called the electrocardiogram.
- C. The 'wave of excitation' starts at the SA node.
- D. The 'wave of excitation' spreads through the heart wall and is accompanied by electric changes.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The corrected statement should be: Changes in the ECG are not typically used for the diagnosis of abnormal cardiac rhythm. The passage mentions that the heart sends out electric currents in waves, and the 'wave of excitation' spreads through the heart wall accompanied by electric changes. It details the process of how the heart's electric impulses are recorded and how abnormalities can be detected. However, it does not state that ECG changes are specifically used for diagnosing abnormal cardiac rhythms. Choice A is the correct answer because it misrepresents the information provided in the passage. Choices B, C, and D are all supported by the passage and align with the details mentioned regarding the electrocardiogram and the wave of excitation in the heart.
5. What is the writer’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
- A. To inform the reader about the dangers of high blood pressure
- B. To inform the reader how high blood pressure leads to a higher risk of heart attack
- C. To inform the reader how the cardiovascular system regulates blood pressure
- D. To persuade the reader that controlling one’s blood pressure is important
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The primary purpose of the essay is to inform the reader about how the cardiovascular system regulates blood pressure. The essay provides detailed explanations about the components of the cardiovascular system that regulate blood pressure, such as baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys. Choices A and B are incorrect because the essay does not focus on discussing the dangers of high blood pressure or its correlation with a higher risk of heart attack. Choice D is incorrect as the essay does not aim to persuade the reader to control their blood pressure but rather to educate them on the regulatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system.
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