Original HESI A2 reading comprehension practice with written answers. Try the free samples below, then practise every section in the full timed exam.
Reading Comprehension gives you short passages and asks you to find the main idea, pick out supporting details, identify the author's purpose and tone, draw reasonable inferences, work out the meaning of a word from its context, and follow a sequence of instructions. None of it rewards outside knowledge — every answer is supported somewhere in the passage, so the skill is reading closely and staying inside the text.
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1. Thirst often becomes a less reliable signal as people age. Older adults also tend to have less total body water than younger adults, and some take medications that increase fluid loss. As a result, they can become dehydrated before they feel the need to drink. For this reason, many caregivers offer fluids at regular intervals instead of waiting for a request. What is the main idea of this passage?
Answer: C. The passage describes several reasons older adults are vulnerable to dehydration and concludes that caregivers should offer fluids before they are requested.
2. Bone is living tissue that is constantly being rebuilt. Cells called osteoclasts dissolve small areas of old bone, and cells called osteoblasts then lay down new material in those spaces. During childhood, new bone forms faster than old bone is removed. Later in adulthood, this balance gradually shifts, and bone density may decline. According to the passage, what happens after osteoclasts dissolve small areas of old bone?
Answer: A. The passage directly states that osteoblasts lay down new material in the spaces left by osteoclasts.
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1. Thirst often becomes a less reliable signal as people age. Older adults also tend to have less total body water than younger adults, and some take medications that increase fluid loss. As a result, they can become dehydrated before they feel the need to drink. For this reason, many caregivers offer fluids at regular intervals instead of waiting for a request. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Most medications taken by older adults cause severe dehydration.B. Caregivers often fail to notice when older adults are thirsty.C. Age-related changes increase the risk of dehydration, so fluids should be offered proactively.D. Older adults need more total fluid each day than younger adults.Answer: C. The passage describes several reasons older adults are vulnerable to dehydration and concludes that caregivers should offer fluids before they are requested.
2. Bone is living tissue that is constantly being rebuilt. Cells called osteoclasts dissolve small areas of old bone, and cells called osteoblasts then lay down new material in those spaces. During childhood, new bone forms faster than old bone is removed. Later in adulthood, this balance gradually shifts, and bone density may decline. According to the passage, what happens after osteoclasts dissolve small areas of old bone?
A. Osteoblasts lay down new material in those spaces.B. Bone density immediately begins to decline.C. Osteoclasts convert into osteoblasts.D. The empty spaces remain until adulthood.Answer: A. The passage directly states that osteoblasts lay down new material in the spaces left by osteoclasts.
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Reading Comprehension gives you short passages and asks you to find the main idea, pick out supporting details, identify the author's purpose and tone, draw reasonable inferences, work out the meaning of a word from its context, and follow a sequence of instructions. None of it rewards outside knowledge — every answer is supported somewhere in the passage, so the skill is reading closely and staying inside the text.