what is the overall tone of the essay

HESI A2

Reading Comprehension HESI A2 Practice Test

1. What is the overall tone of the essay?

A. Apathetic
B. Fascinated
C. Discouraged
D. Hopeful

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The overall tone of the essay is discouraged, as it conveys concern over the United States’ lower ranking in life expectancy and highlights various health issues contributing to this situation. The language used suggests frustration and disappointment regarding the country's health statistics, supporting option C as the correct answer.

2. Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the passage about Concussions?

A. Football and lacrosse players suffer the most concussions.
B. More than a million Americans a year suffer concussions.
C. Concussions may result in diminished alertness.
D. It may take longer to recover from a second concussion.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Skim the passage to identify the detail that does not appear. The sports in choice A are never mentioned, so you do not even need to look at the other choices.

3. What is stated in the passage?

A. Physical illness can cause insomnia.
B. Exercise causes insomnia.
C. There is no solution to insomnia.
D. Sleep is unnecessary for good health.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Physical illness can cause insomnia.' The passage mentions that chronic insomnia can result from a medical illness, among other conditions. This indicates a direct link between physical illness and insomnia. Choice B is incorrect as the passage does not mention exercise causing insomnia but actually suggests developing good sleep habits as a solution. Choice C is incorrect as the passage provides solutions to insomnia, such as sleep hygiene and non-pharmacological therapies. Choice D is incorrect as the passage emphasizes the importance of getting a good night's sleep for good health, implying that sleep is necessary.

4. In the passage the word embark means to:

A. Remove the covering from a tree
B. Speak harshly to others
C. Entertain the reader
D. Put or go on board a ship

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The word 'embark' typically means to board a ship or begin a journey. In this context, it means to start or set out on a new undertaking or venture, often including the act of boarding a ship. In the provided passage about the Golden Gate Bridge, it is mentioned that builders, architects, and workers embarked on the challenge of building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait, which refers to them starting this new undertaking. Therefore, the correct definition of 'embark' is D. Put or go on board a ship. The other choices are incorrect: A. Removing the covering from a tree is unrelated to the context of the passage. B. Speaking harshly to others and C. Entertaining the reader are also irrelevant to the meaning of 'embark' in this context.