HESI A2 - Reading Comprehension. Exam
Questions With Verified And Updated
Answers
Identifying the Main Idea - answer✔First identify the topic by asking "What is the passage
about?" Once this question is answered, then ask "What point is the author making about this
topic?" The majority of paragraphs will include information about the main idea. Stop and
summaries, and visualize as you read.
HESI Hint: Main Ideas - answer✔Main ideas can be found in the beginning, in the middle, or at
the end of a paragraph or passage. Always check the introduction and conclusion for the main
idea.
Topic Sentence - answer✔A sentence that expresses the main idea of the paragraph. Can be
stated in one or two sentences, and are often found at the beginning of paragraphs.
Identifying Supporting Details - answer✔These are details that the writer uses to give a
description, a background, or simply more information to support the main idea. They may be
examples, facts, or statistics. Often the author's main idea can be confused with the examples
or reasons that support the main idea.
Hint: Identifying Supporting Details - answer✔Usually the reader can discover details by the
authors use of transition words such as one, next, another, first, or finally, which indicate that a
detail is being provided.
Finding the meaning of Words in Context - answer✔Identifying the correct meaning of a word
or words may be the key to identifying the authors main idea. The reader should use context
clues to identify the meaning of a word.
Context Clue - answer✔The information provided by the author in the words or sentences
surrounding the unknown word or words.
Definition Context Clue - answer✔When the author puts the meaning of the word in
parenthesis or states the definition in the following sentence.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Synonym Context Clue - answer✔When the author gives the reader another word that means
the same or nearly the same as the unknown word.
Antonym Context Clue - answer✔When the author gives a word that means the opposite of the
unknown word.
HESI Hint: Antonym Context Clues - answer✔The reader needs to watch for clue words such as
although, but, and instead, which sometimes signal that an antonym is being used.
Restatement Context Clue - answer✔When the author restates the unknown word in a
sentence using more familiar words.
"Example Context Clue" - answer✔When the author gives examples that clearly help the reader
understand the meaning of the unknown word.
Explanation Context Clue - answer✔When the author gives more information about the
unknown word, which better explains the meaning of the word.
Word Structure Context Clue - answer✔Sometimes simply knowing the meaning of basic
prefixes, suffixes, and root words can help the reader make an educated guess about an
unknown word.
HESI Hint: Finding a words Meaning in the Context - answer✔Look carefully at the words and
sentences surrounding the unknown word. Once the correct meaning has been chosen, test
that meaning in the passage. It should make sense, and the meaning should be supported by
the other sentences in the passage or paragraph
Identifying a Writers Purpose - answer✔Factual information may be used to inform, and
information with positive or negative connotations or judgments may be used to persuade. An
in-depth investigation of a topic may be an analysis.
Purpose - answer✔The reason for reading or writing, such as entertain, inform, analyze, or
persuade.
Identifying a Writers Tone - answer✔An article that describes something as being inspiring or
visionary has a positive tone. An article that describes something as wasteful or foolhardy has a
negative tone. There are various tones an article can take on.
Tone - answer✔Refers to the attitude or feelings the author has about the topic; the character
of the text in terms of word choice, and sentence structure.
Connotation - answer✔Refers to the emotions or feelings that the reader attaches to the
words. Can be positive or negative, and usually has implied meanings. (Denotation: Dictionary
definitions of a word)
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