what does instigate mean

HESI A2

Vocabulary HESI A2 Practice Test

1. What does instigate mean?

A. Deactivate
B. Activate
C. Suppress
D. Evaluate

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Activate.' Instigate means to initiate or provoke a particular event or action. Choice A, 'Deactivate,' is incorrect as it means to make something inactive, which is the opposite of instigate. Choice C, 'Suppress,' is incorrect as it means to restrain or prevent something, not to initiate it. Choice D, 'Evaluate,' is incorrect as it means to assess or judge the value or quality of something, not to start or provoke it.

2. What is another word for acrid?

A. Bitter
B. Smoky
C. Nimble
D. Severe

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Acrid is often used to describe a sharp, unpleasant smell or taste, which is synonymous with bitterness. The word 'bitter' closely relates to the strong and sharp sensation associated with acrid qualities. Choice B, 'Smoky,' does not capture the sharpness or unpleasantness associated with acrid, as it refers more to the presence of smoke. Choice C, 'Nimble,' and choice D, 'Severe,' are unrelated to the meaning of acrid and do not serve as synonyms in this context.

3. Identify the correct sentence structure.

A. The cat sleeping on the mat
B. The cat is sleeping on the mat
C. The mat that the cat is sleeping on
D. Sleeping on the mat is the cat

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct sentence structure is 'The cat is sleeping on the mat.' This is a complete and grammatically correct sentence following a standard subject-verb-object structure. 'The cat' is the subject, 'is sleeping' is the verb, and 'on the mat' is the prepositional phrase describing where the action is taking place. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Option A is a sentence fragment lacking a verb; option C is a dependent clause lacking a main clause, and option D has a subject-verb inversion making it awkward and incorrect.

4. What is the CORRECT CONTRACTION for 'They are'?

A. Their
B. They're
C. The're
D. No contraction used

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct contraction for 'They are' is 'They're.' 'Their' is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership, not a contraction. 'The're' is not a valid contraction. 'No contraction used' is incorrect as there is a contraction for 'They are,' which is 'They're.'

5. If a patient’s condition is deteriorating, he is ___________.

A. getting worse
B. improving gradually
C. resisting medication
D. failing to eat or drink

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a patient's condition is deteriorating, it means that their health is declining or worsening. This can involve a range of factors such as worsening symptoms, declining vital signs, or an overall decline in health status. In this context, the phrase 'getting worse' best describes the situation of a patient whose condition is deteriorating. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not reflect the concept of deterioration in a patient's health. Improving gradually (choice B) indicates a positive trend, resisting medication (choice C) suggests a behavioral response, and failing to eat or drink (choice D) points to a specific issue rather than a general decline in health.