HESI A2 Reading flashcards
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How to summarize a passage that runs over several paragraphs
- What is the difference between a main idea and a detail?
- The main idea is the one point the whole passage makes. Details are the facts, numbers, examples, and quotes that support it.
- How do you build a one-sentence summary of a long passage?
- Label each paragraph with a short phrase. Then join the labels in their original order into one sentence, in your own words.
- Where can a topic sentence appear in a paragraph?
- Often first, but it can also be in the middle or at the end.
- Which signal words point to the idea to keep?
- In conclusion, therefore, as a result, and thus. For example and for instance introduce support. However signals a turn.
- Why is a true sentence from the passage often a wrong summary?
- It may be only a detail or cover only one paragraph. A good summary covers the whole passage.
- What should a summary never include?
- The reader's opinions, advice the author never gave, claims broader than the passage (all, best), or reversed cause and effect.
How to use evidence from a passage to support, predict and conclude
- What is textual evidence?
- A fact, number, example, or observation in the passage that makes a claim more likely to be true. It must come from the text.
- What steps help you pick the sentence that best supports a claim?
- Restate the claim, predict what proof looks like, test each choice, and reject choices that repeat the claim or point elsewhere.
- Does a sentence that repeats the claim count as evidence?
- No. Saying the same thing in other words proves nothing. Evidence is a detail that does the proving work.
- What do qualifiers like may, most, and some do to a claim?
- They limit it. The right answer keeps the same limits. Choices with always or all go too far.
- How do you predict an outcome from a passage?
- Follow the passage's cause-and-effect pattern. Signal words include because, so, therefore, and as a result.
How to find one specific detail in a text fast
- What is the difference between skimming and scanning?
- Skimming is a fast pass for the main idea. Scanning hunts for one specific detail and skips the rest.
- What should you do before you start scanning?
- Turn the question into a target: a keyword, name, number, date, or time. If you cannot name the target, you are not ready to scan.
- Which parts of a text show where to jump?
- Titles, headings, subheadings, labels, and bold words. They show which section holds the answer.
- What should you do once you land on the keyword?
- Slow down and read the whole sentence. Check limits such as only, except, unless, weekdays, and after.
- How do you use an index entry that says "Flu. See Influenza"?
- Look under Influenza, the term the book uses. Then find the subentry for your narrower topic, such as vaccine.
- What wrong answer catches students who scan too fast?
- A true detail from the wrong section, such as the right number under the wrong heading, that answers a different question.
How to figure out a word's meaning from context
- What does "as used in the passage" ask for?
- The meaning that fits the sentence, not the most common meaning of the word. Many words have several meanings.
- Which signal words show a contrast clue?
- But, however, unlike, although, and instead of. They point to the opposite meaning.
- Which signals mark a definition clue?
- Means, is defined as, refers to, dashes, and parentheses. The definition sits right next to the unknown word.
- What are the three steps for finding a word's meaning in context?
- Find the clue, predict your own plain word, then plug each answer choice into the sentence and keep the one that fits.
- What is the difference between denotation and connotation?
- Denotation is the dictionary meaning. Connotation is the positive or negative feeling a word carries, like thrifty versus stingy.
- How should you read figurative language?
- Translate it into a plain statement first. "A mountain of paperwork" means a lot of paperwork, not a pile of rocks.
How to tell fact from opinion and spot bias
- How do you tell a fact from an opinion?
- Ask whether someone could check it with a record, measurement, or study. If yes, it is a fact. A judgment is an opinion.
- Which words and phrases signal an opinion?
- Value words (best, unfair), should or must, and phrases like I believe. Circle them as you read.
- Is "40 percent of staff skip lunch, which is shameful" a fact or an opinion?
- An opinion. The judgment word shameful makes the whole statement an opinion, even though it contains a number.
- Is "The health department reported 1,200 flu cases" a fact?
- Yes. You can check that the department reported it. Reporting what a source says is a fact.
- What are the signs of bias in a text?
- Emotionally loaded words, one side presented as the only side, and missing viewpoints. A biased text can still contain true facts.
- What is the difference between a stereotype and a misconception?
- A stereotype assumes a whole group shares a trait, often with all or never. A misconception is a popular belief the evidence contradicts.
How to make inferences and draw conclusions from a passage
- What is an inference?
- A conclusion the passage supports but does not state directly. It combines clue sentences with everyday common sense.
- What are the steps for making an inference?
- Find the clue sentences, ask what they add up to, point to the proof for each choice, and pick the best-supported one.
- What kind of inference is usually the best answer?
- A modest claim the text strongly supports, not a dramatic one.
- Why do extreme words like all, never, and proves usually signal a wrong answer?
- They usually push a choice beyond the evidence. A small change in the text is not a total change; fewer is not none.
- Can an answer be true in real life and still be wrong?
- Yes. If you need outside knowledge to make it work, it is not supported. Point to the proof in the passage.
How to identify the author's purpose
- What question reveals an author's purpose?
- Ask what the author wants you to do, know, or feel after reading. The answer names the purpose.
- A passage cites facts but ends with a call to action. What is its purpose?
- To persuade. Facts that support a call to action still serve persuasion, not informing.
- A passage opens with a short story. Is the purpose always to entertain?
- No. If the story sets up an argument, the purpose is to persuade. Check the conclusion.
- Which features show a text is technical?
- Numbered steps, precise details, warnings, and exact names of the buttons or parts the reader will use. It helps the reader complete a task.
- How do you tell describing from narrating?
- Describing paints a picture with sensory details. Narrating tells what happened over time, with characters, a setting, and events in order.
- Why must a purpose answer fit the whole passage?
- A choice may be true for only one paragraph. The primary purpose covers the whole text, so check the conclusion, not only the opening.
How to find the author's point of view and tone
- Which pronouns mark first, second, and third person?
- First: I, me, we, our. Second: you, your. Third: he, she, it, they, or names.
- What is the difference between grammatical person and perspective?
- Person tells who is speaking. Perspective is the author's attitude toward the subject.
- How do you find an author's attitude?
- Mark the judgment words, such as adjectives and verbs that praise or criticize. Plain facts and numbers alone do not reveal attitude.
- What do but, however, still, and yet often signal?
- A turn toward a mixed or qualified view. Weigh what follows the signal word, not just the opening.
- What two parts do you name when describing an author's attitude?
- Direction (for, against, mixed, or neutral) and strength (mild or strong). An author who raises problems is skeptical, not hostile, unless the words are that extreme.
- Is a view introduced by "critics say" the author's own view?
- No. A reported view belongs to the people named. Check who is speaking.
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