how did the people regard a white elephant

HESI A2

Reading Comprehension HESI A2

1. How were white elephants regarded by the people of Siam?

A. If a village elder received a white elephant, the entire village shared in the supply of meat.
B. White elephants were highly prized as they were very hard workers in the cane fields.
C. The people of Siam vied for the honor of receiving the king's gift or a white elephant.
D. White elephants were a financial burden despite being considered sacred.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. In the culture of Siam, white elephants were highly regarded as sacred and receiving one as a gift from the king was considered an honor. It was a symbol of prestige and status to receive the king's gift of a white elephant. Option A is incorrect as white elephants were not used for meat supply. Option B is also incorrect as white elephants were not prized for their work but rather for their symbolic value. Option D is partially correct but does not capture the full significance of white elephants in Siam.

2. Which statement from the passage on Voice is a fact rather than an opinion?

A. One of the worst voice qualities is harshness.
B. Harsh voice qualities come from tension in the throat.
C. Your voice will sound unpleasant if it is shrill or grating.
D. Because tension occurs in higher-pitched voices, women tend to have shriller voices than men.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. The fact that harsh voice qualities come from tension in the throat is a verifiable statement based on a scientific explanation provided in the passage. This statement is not subject to personal interpretation or judgment. Choice A is an opinion as it categorizes harshness as one of the worst voice qualities, which is subjective. Choice C is also an opinion as it describes how a voice will sound based on subjective terms like 'unpleasant.' Choice D is an opinion as it makes a generalized statement linking higher-pitched voices with shriller voices in women, which can vary widely among individuals.

3. Which of the following statements is an opinion?

A. The connection between sleep and weight should be explored.
B. Many young children average only eight hours of sleep a night.
C. People who sleep less are more likely to be obese.
D. Researchers in New Zealand studied almost 600 children.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The statement that the connection between sleep and weight should be explored reflects a personal viewpoint rather than an objective fact. It indicates a belief that further research is warranted to understand this relationship better, making it an opinion and distinguishing it from the other factual statements presented in the passage.

4. What is stated in the passage about the Olympic Games?

A. The Olympic Games are held every four years.
B. The Olympic Games are often postponed.
C. The Olympic Games are held only in leap years.
D. The Olympic Games only involve certain countries.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'The Olympic Games are held every four years,' as stated in the passage. The extract explicitly mentions that the Summer Olympic Games are held every four years. Choice B is incorrect as there is no mention of the Olympic Games being often postponed in the passage. Choice C is incorrect because although the Olympic Games occur during leap years, they are not exclusively held only in leap years. Choice D is incorrect as there is no indication in the passage that the Olympic Games only involve certain countries.

5. What is implied by the article?

A. Siam was renamed Thailand in the past
B. The author dislikes parlor games
C. Elephants are difficult to take care of and train
D. White elephants were considered sacred and a burden to their recipients

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The article explicitly states that centuries ago, Siam, now known as Thailand, had the custom of giving white elephants as punishment. This implies that Siam was renamed Thailand in the past. The other choices (B, C, D) are not supported by the content of the article. Choice B is incorrect as the author does not express any dislike for parlor games. Choice C is incorrect as the article does not mention that elephants are easy or difficult to take care of and train. Choice D is incorrect as the article describes white elephants as sacred and a burden to their recipients, not as hard workers in the cane fields.