HESI A2 EXAM
READING COMPEHENSION
Doppler Effect
Have you ever wondered why the whistle of a traveling, distant locomotive predicts its
approach several yards before anyone actually sees it? Or why an oncoming
ambulance’s screaming siren is heard momentarily several feet before the ambulance
comes into full view, before it passes you, and why its siren is still heard faintly well
after the ambulance is out of sight?
What you are witnessing is a scientific phenomenon known as the Doppler Effect. What
takes place is truly remarkable. In both of these instances, when the train or ambulance
moves toward the sound waves in front of it, the sound waves are pulled closer
together and have a higher frequency. In either instance, the listener positioned in
front of the moving object hears a higher pitch. The ambulance and locomotive are
progressively moving away from the sound waves behind them, causing the waves to
be farther apart and to have a lower frequency. These fast-approaching modes of
transportation distance themselves past the listener, who hears a lower pitch.
1. Which statement is not listed as a detail in the passage?
A. The oncoming sound waves have a higher pitch because of high frequency and
closeness of waves.
B. The oncoming sound waves have a higher pitch because of low frequency and
closeness of waves.
C. The whistling sound of the locomotive as it approaches and passes can be
explained by the Doppler effect.
D. The high-pitched sound of the ambulance as it approaches and passes can be
explained by the Doppler effect.
2. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Trains and ambulances make distinctly loud noises.
B. Low-frequency waves make high-pitched sounds.
C. High-frequency waves make low-pitched sounds.
D. The Doppler Effect explains the rationale for why sound is heard initially more
strongly and then faintly after a moving object has passed.
,3. What is the meaning of the word phenomenon in the second paragraph?
A. Something that is lifeless to the senses
B. Something that is nonchalant
C. Something that is significant but unusual
D. Something that is chemical in origin
4. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
A. To entertain the reader with information about trains and ambulances
B. To inform the reader about avoiding accidents, which involve trains and
ambulances
C. To inform the reader about how movement affects sound
D. To analyze the difference between train and ambulance sounds
5. Which sound waves have a higher pitch?
A. Those waves that are closer together
B. Those waves that are farther apart
C. Those waves that travel a long distance
D. Those waves that travel a short distance
6. Which sound waves have a lower pitch?
A. Those waves that are closer together
B. Those waves that are farther apart
C. Those waves that travel a long distance
D. Those waves that travel a short distance
Electrocardiogram
Beep!…Beep!…Beep! is the audible rhythmic sound made as the strength of the heart
muscle is measured. The signal cadence has a characteristic record that varies in
every individual. This record is called an electrocardiogram, or ECG.
,In the body, an array of systemic neural responses constantly occur, emitting electric
currents. The electric currents can be detected on the surface of the body, and if a
person is hooked to an amplifier, these impulses are recorded by an
electrocardiograph.
Most of the information obtained is about the heart because the heart sends out
electric currents in waves. This “wave of excitation” spreads through the heart wall
and is accompanied by electric changes. The wave takes place in three distinct steps.
Initially, the “wave of excitation” accompanied by an electric change lasts for
approximately 1 to 2 seconds after the contraction of the cardiac muscle. The electric
impulses are discharged rhythmically from the sinoatrial (SA) node, the pacemaker of
the heart. This spread of excitation over the muscle of the atrium indicates that the
atrium has contracted.
Next, the peak of the ECG reading is due to the atrioventricular (AV) node, causing the
ventricle to become excited.
Finally, the ventricles relax, and any changes in the wave indicate to trained medical
staff any abnormalities within the heart.
7. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing the essay?
A. To persuade the reader to have an ECG
B. To entertain the reader with a heart-warming story
C. To inform the reader how an electrocardiograph reads the electric currents
emitted by the heart
D. To analyze the difference in the SA node and the AV node
8. Which statement is not listed as a detail within the passage?
A. Changes in the ECG are typically used for diagnosis of abnormal cardiac rhythm.
B. The signal has a characteristic record called the electrocardiogram.
C. The “wave of excitation” starts at the SA node.
D. The “wave of excitation” spreads through the heart wall and is accompanied by
electric changes.
9. What is the meaning of the word emitting as it is used in the second paragraph?
A. Repelling
B. Releasing
, C. Closing
D. Charging
10. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the
heart.
B. The ECG systematically and quickly measures the stages at which the “wave of
excitation” occurs within the heart and records them.
C. The “wave of excitation” is detected on the surface of the body and is used to
measure the atrial excitation of the heart.
D. The electric currents within the body are in direct relation to the “wave of
excitation” measured by the ECG.
11. What is the best summary of the passage?
A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the
heart. Medical staff are trained to recognize any abnormalities within the heart.
B. Every individual has unique electric currents on the surface of the body. The
ECG measures and records these electric currents.
C. The ECG systematically and rather quickly measures the stages at which the
“wave of excitation” occurs within the heart and records them. This wave has three
distinct steps that spread from the SA node to the AV node.
D. The ECG measures the electric currents within the body. These currents are
detected on the surface of the body when the body is connected to an amplifier.
12. What are the three steps of the “wave of excitation”?
A. The discharge from the SA node, the peak ECG, and the excitement of the
ventricle.
B. The excitement of the ventricle, the relaxing of the ventricle, and the systemic
neural response.
C. The contraction of the atrium, the relaxation of the atrium, and the contraction
of the ventricle.
D. The excitation of the atrium, the excitement of the ventricle, and the relaxing of
the ventricle.
READING COMPEHENSION
Doppler Effect
Have you ever wondered why the whistle of a traveling, distant locomotive predicts its
approach several yards before anyone actually sees it? Or why an oncoming
ambulance’s screaming siren is heard momentarily several feet before the ambulance
comes into full view, before it passes you, and why its siren is still heard faintly well
after the ambulance is out of sight?
What you are witnessing is a scientific phenomenon known as the Doppler Effect. What
takes place is truly remarkable. In both of these instances, when the train or ambulance
moves toward the sound waves in front of it, the sound waves are pulled closer
together and have a higher frequency. In either instance, the listener positioned in
front of the moving object hears a higher pitch. The ambulance and locomotive are
progressively moving away from the sound waves behind them, causing the waves to
be farther apart and to have a lower frequency. These fast-approaching modes of
transportation distance themselves past the listener, who hears a lower pitch.
1. Which statement is not listed as a detail in the passage?
A. The oncoming sound waves have a higher pitch because of high frequency and
closeness of waves.
B. The oncoming sound waves have a higher pitch because of low frequency and
closeness of waves.
C. The whistling sound of the locomotive as it approaches and passes can be
explained by the Doppler effect.
D. The high-pitched sound of the ambulance as it approaches and passes can be
explained by the Doppler effect.
2. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Trains and ambulances make distinctly loud noises.
B. Low-frequency waves make high-pitched sounds.
C. High-frequency waves make low-pitched sounds.
D. The Doppler Effect explains the rationale for why sound is heard initially more
strongly and then faintly after a moving object has passed.
,3. What is the meaning of the word phenomenon in the second paragraph?
A. Something that is lifeless to the senses
B. Something that is nonchalant
C. Something that is significant but unusual
D. Something that is chemical in origin
4. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
A. To entertain the reader with information about trains and ambulances
B. To inform the reader about avoiding accidents, which involve trains and
ambulances
C. To inform the reader about how movement affects sound
D. To analyze the difference between train and ambulance sounds
5. Which sound waves have a higher pitch?
A. Those waves that are closer together
B. Those waves that are farther apart
C. Those waves that travel a long distance
D. Those waves that travel a short distance
6. Which sound waves have a lower pitch?
A. Those waves that are closer together
B. Those waves that are farther apart
C. Those waves that travel a long distance
D. Those waves that travel a short distance
Electrocardiogram
Beep!…Beep!…Beep! is the audible rhythmic sound made as the strength of the heart
muscle is measured. The signal cadence has a characteristic record that varies in
every individual. This record is called an electrocardiogram, or ECG.
,In the body, an array of systemic neural responses constantly occur, emitting electric
currents. The electric currents can be detected on the surface of the body, and if a
person is hooked to an amplifier, these impulses are recorded by an
electrocardiograph.
Most of the information obtained is about the heart because the heart sends out
electric currents in waves. This “wave of excitation” spreads through the heart wall
and is accompanied by electric changes. The wave takes place in three distinct steps.
Initially, the “wave of excitation” accompanied by an electric change lasts for
approximately 1 to 2 seconds after the contraction of the cardiac muscle. The electric
impulses are discharged rhythmically from the sinoatrial (SA) node, the pacemaker of
the heart. This spread of excitation over the muscle of the atrium indicates that the
atrium has contracted.
Next, the peak of the ECG reading is due to the atrioventricular (AV) node, causing the
ventricle to become excited.
Finally, the ventricles relax, and any changes in the wave indicate to trained medical
staff any abnormalities within the heart.
7. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing the essay?
A. To persuade the reader to have an ECG
B. To entertain the reader with a heart-warming story
C. To inform the reader how an electrocardiograph reads the electric currents
emitted by the heart
D. To analyze the difference in the SA node and the AV node
8. Which statement is not listed as a detail within the passage?
A. Changes in the ECG are typically used for diagnosis of abnormal cardiac rhythm.
B. The signal has a characteristic record called the electrocardiogram.
C. The “wave of excitation” starts at the SA node.
D. The “wave of excitation” spreads through the heart wall and is accompanied by
electric changes.
9. What is the meaning of the word emitting as it is used in the second paragraph?
A. Repelling
B. Releasing
, C. Closing
D. Charging
10. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the
heart.
B. The ECG systematically and quickly measures the stages at which the “wave of
excitation” occurs within the heart and records them.
C. The “wave of excitation” is detected on the surface of the body and is used to
measure the atrial excitation of the heart.
D. The electric currents within the body are in direct relation to the “wave of
excitation” measured by the ECG.
11. What is the best summary of the passage?
A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the
heart. Medical staff are trained to recognize any abnormalities within the heart.
B. Every individual has unique electric currents on the surface of the body. The
ECG measures and records these electric currents.
C. The ECG systematically and rather quickly measures the stages at which the
“wave of excitation” occurs within the heart and records them. This wave has three
distinct steps that spread from the SA node to the AV node.
D. The ECG measures the electric currents within the body. These currents are
detected on the surface of the body when the body is connected to an amplifier.
12. What are the three steps of the “wave of excitation”?
A. The discharge from the SA node, the peak ECG, and the excitement of the
ventricle.
B. The excitement of the ventricle, the relaxing of the ventricle, and the systemic
neural response.
C. The contraction of the atrium, the relaxation of the atrium, and the contraction
of the ventricle.
D. The excitation of the atrium, the excitement of the ventricle, and the relaxing of
the ventricle.
