500 Hesi A2 Questions To Know by Test Day Kathy A Zahler Full Chapter

500 HESI A2 Questions to Know by Test
Day Kathy A. Zahler

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CONTENTS
Introduction
Diagnostic Quiz
Getting Started: The Diagnostic Quiz
Diagnostic Quiz Questions
Diagnostic Quiz Answers
Chapter 1 Reading Comprehension

Questions 1–65
Chapter 2 Vocabulary and General Knowledge

Questions 66–130
Chapter 3 Grammar
Questions 131–195
Chapter 4 Basic Math Skills

Questions 196–260
Chapter 5 Biology
Questions 261–325
Chapter 6 Chemistry
Questions 326–380
Chapter 7 Anatomy and Physiology

Questions 381–445
Chapter 8 Physics
Questions 446–500
Answers
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! You’ve taken a big step toward success on the HESI

A2 by purchasing 500 HESI A2 Questions to know by test day. We
are here to help you take the next step and score high on your exam
so you can get into the nursing school of your choice.
Created from McGraw Hill’s larger guide, 4 HESI A2 Practice Tests,
this book presents practice questions to help you focus on problem-
solving. These 500 HESI A2-style questions cover the key concepts
found on the exam. Most of these questions are multiple-choice, but
a few, including the numeric entry questions under Basic Math Skills,
ask for a specific answer. Each question is clearly explained in the
answer key. The questions will give you valuable independent
practice to supplement your review.
This book and the others in the series were written by expert
authors who know the subject inside and out and are very familiar
with the kind of questions that are most likely to appear on the
exam.
You might be the kind of student who needs a few weeks of extra
study before the exam for a final review. Or you might be the kind of
student who puts off preparing until the last minute before the
exam. No matter what your preparation style, you will benefit from
reviewing these 500 questions, which closely parallel the content
and degree of difficulty of the questions on the actual HESI A2
exam. These questions and the explanations in the answer key are
the ideal last-minute study tool for those final weeks before the test.
If you practice with all the questions and answers in this book, we
are certain you will build the skills and confidence needed to excel
on your test. Good luck!
—The Editors of McGraw Hill

Diagnostic Quiz
GETTING STARTED: THE
DIAGNOSTIC QUIZ
The following questions refer to topics covered throughout this book.

These questions will help you test your understanding of the
concepts tested on the HESI A2 exam and give you an idea of where
you need to focus your attention as you prepare. Keep in mind that
your specific HESI program may not require all eight modules; you
should focus on the ones that pertain to your program. For each
question, simply circle the letter of your answer choice. Once you
are done with each set of questions, check the answers at the back
to see how well you scored.
Good luck!
DIAGNOSTIC QUIZ
QUESTIONS
Health Equity
Following the coronavirus pandemic and its profound effects on
populations of color, health equity has once again become a hot
topic in medical circles. A community achieves health equity by
eliminating health disparities and ensuring peak health for all
residents.
To understand health equity, it helps to understand the causes of
health inequity. Health inequity results from poverty and
discrimination. It results from systemic inequities that distribute
resources differently across classes, races, ethnicities, and genders.
It results from cultural barriers between physicians and patients and
unconscious biases on the part of medical personnel that may lead
to inadequate interactions.
The National Center for Health Statistics has recorded a variety of
disparities in U.S. health outcomes. For example, Black Americans
are significantly more likely than white Americans to die prematurely
from heart disease. Poor children are far more likely to die before
the age of five than children from middle-class homes are. Obesity is
far more common in Hispanic children and teens than in the rest of
the population. Indigenous women have higher rates of stroke-
related deaths and infant mortality than white women do. Women
are far more likely than men to experience domestic violence, and
men are far more likely than women to commit suicide.
Organizations such as the American Medical Association are
attempting to mitigate health inequities by raising awareness of
health disparities and encouraging health care providers to examine
their own biases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
point to successful interventions in high-risk communities that have
reduced asthma hospitalizations in Boston, educated Latino men to
prevent the spread of HIV, and improved cancer screenings for
indigenous and low-income residents of Washington and Alaska.
COVID-19 exposed health inequities nationwide. Even the
vaccination program has had its share of complaints over disparities
in access. The nation has a long way to go to bring its population to
an equitable level of health care.
1. Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the passage?

(A) The AMA wants health workers to consider their own
biases.
(B) Certain interventions have reduced asthma
hospitalizations.
(C) Black Americans have a high rate of death from heart
disease.
(D) Women are diagnosed with mental illness more often
than men are.
2. Choose the best summary of the passage.

(A) Although health inequity still exists in treatment for
COVID-19, many inequities have been mitigated through
education programs for health care workers. As
physicians and nurses examine their own biases, they
start to recognize the ways in which they are providing
different levels of care to different classes of patients.
(B) The fact that Black Americans die at a greater rate of
heart disease than white Americans do is just one
example of health inequity. Others include disparities in
infant mortality, fatal strokes, domestic violence, obesity,
and suicide. Luckily, the National Center for Health
Statistics maintains a record that clearly shows the
disparities in health care based on race and class.
(C) Health inequity stems from a variety of structural and
systemic problems as well as from personal biases. It
causes disparities in overall health outcomes connected
to class, race, ethnicity, and gender. Medical
organizations are trying to improve equity through
education and interventions, but much remains to be
done.
(D) A community achieves health equity by ensuring equal
care and treatment of all of its residents. For example, in
a community with high rates of asthma, it is possible to
bring down the rate of hospitalizations by providing
equitable care. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown
Americans where some of the most egregious health
inequities occur.
3. Which of the following is a conclusion that a reader can draw

from this passage?
(A) Certain ingrained biases can affect the standard of care
for patients.
(B) The lack of adequate health care is usually linked to
income and ZIP code.
(C) The United States has significantly greater health
inequity than other nations do.
(D) Interventions in high-risk areas are turning around
health inequities nationwide.
4. Which word names a small, hair-like projection?

(A) Vesicle
(B) Vernix
(C) Viscus
(D) Villus
5. Select the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence.
The patient’s dysphoria will require further treatment.
(A) Abnormal development
(B) Difficulty in vocalizing
(C) Shortness of breath
(D) Anxiety
6. Which of the following is spelled correctly?

(A) Malliable
(B) Maleable
(C) Malleable
(D) Maliable
7. Select the sentence that is grammatically correct.

(A) Completing that form allows you to request paperless
reports from now on.
(B) Complete that form to allows you to request paperless
(C) Completing that form allowing you to request paperless
(D) Completing that form allows you request paperless
8. What percent of 60 is 36?

(A) 42%
(B) 48%
(C) 56%
(D) 60%
9. Multiply and express in lowest terms: 2¼ × 4½ =

(A) 8¼
(B) 8⅛
(C) 10⅛
(D) 10½
10. How many cubic centimeters (ccs) are in 1 liter?
(A) 10
(B) 100
(C) 1,000
(D) 10,000
11. Hemoglobin is an example of what kind of molecule?

(A) Lipid
(B) Carbohydrate
(C) Protein
(D) Nucleic acid
12. In which phase of meiosis do chromosomes align and trade

parts?
(A) Prophase I
(B) Prophase II
(C) Telophase I
(D) Telophase II
13. How does the heart of a fish differ from that of a human?
(A) The heart rate of a fish is significantly slower than that of
a human.
(B) Fish hearts have two chambers, and human hearts have
four.
(C) Instead of hearts, fish have tubes that pump
hemolymph.
(D) Fish have two atria but only a single ventricle.
14. What is the correct formula for silver sulfide?

(A) SSf
(B) Ag2S
(C) SAg2
(D) AgNO3
15. H2CO3 → H2O + CO2 is an example of which kind of
reaction?
(A) Combustion
(B) Decomposition
(C) Single-replacement
(D) Double-replacement
16. Which part of the brain is critical to the ability to hear?

(A) Temporal lobe
(B) Hippocampus
(C) Cerebral cortex
(D) Occipital lobe
17. The patella is _____ to the femur.

(A) proximal
(B) distal
(C) lateral
(D) medial
18. Which muscle helps to lift the shoulder blade?

(A) Trapezius
(B) Biceps brachii
(C) Palmaris brevis
(D) Latissimus dorsi
19. If a 32-kg bowling ball generates 224 kg⋅m/s units of

momentum, what is its velocity?
(A) 6.5 m/s
(B) 7 m/s
(C) 192 m/s
(D) 7,168 m/s
20. If a radioactive substance has a half-life of 4 years, what

fraction of the substance will remain after 16 years?
(A) One-fifth
(B) One-quarter
(C) One-eighth
(D) One-sixteenth
DIAGNOSTIC QUIZ
ANSWERS
Chapter 1: Reading Comprehension

1. (D) Choices A and B are details found in paragraph 4. Choice C is
a detail mentioned in paragraph 3. Choice D, although it is true,
does not appear in the passage.
2. (C) A good summary should contain the key ideas from the
passage. Choices A, B, and D look at specific details from the
passage but do not offer an overview of the whole passage. Choice
C is more complete. It covers the definition of terms, the results of
health inequities, what is being done to mitigate health inequities,
and the fact that more needs to happen.
3. (A) To draw a conclusion, the reader must take information from

the passage and add it to existing knowledge to infer something that
is not directly stated. Choice B may be true, but it is not supported
by information in the passage. Choice C is never discussed; the
passage mentions only health inequity in the United States. Choice D
is challenged by the last sentence of the passage. Examples of
successful interventions appear in the passage, but they are not
nationwide. The second paragraph refers to “unconscious biases on
the part of medical personnel that may lead to inadequate
interactions,” making choice A a reasonable conclusion.
Chapter 2: Vocabulary and General Knowledge

4. (D) A villus (plural villi) is a thin vascular projection that increases
the surface area of a membrane, as in the small intestine, where villi
increase the surface area to allow for better food absorption. A
vesicle (choice A) is a small pouch, as in the seminal vesicles located
behind the male bladder. Vernix (choice B) is the substance that
protects the skin of a fetus. A viscus (choice C) is an internal organ
(plural viscera).
5. (D) The medical prefix dys- means “bad.” The medical suffix -
phoria means “state” or “tendency.” Dysplasia is bad development
(choice A), dysphonia is bad speaking (choice B), and dyspnea is
bad breathing (choice C).
Chapter 3: Grammar
6. (C) Malleable means “easily shaped,” and it can refer either to an
object or to a person. It derives from the Latin for “hammer,”
malleus, because its initial meaning had to do with the ability of
certain soft metals to be shaped and formed. Knowing how to spell
mallet can help you with malleable.
7. (A) Reading the sentences aloud may help you find the one that
is correct. In choice B, to allows is not a correct grammatical
formation. Choice C is not a complete sentence. The word to is
missing from the infinitive verb in choice D. Only choice A is
grammatically correct.
Chapter 4: Basic Math Skills

8. (D) Think: 36∕60 = x/100. Alternatively, divide 36 by 60. The
answer is 0.6, or 60%.
9. (C) Express the mixed numbers as improper fractions, and

multiply the numerators and the denominators. 21∕4 = 9∕4. 41∕2 = 9∕2.
9
∕4 × 9∕2 = 81∕8 = 101∕8.
10. (C) One cc = one mL. In other words, a cubic centimeter and a
milliliter represent the same volume. Liquid medicine is often
measured in cc, mL, teaspoons, or tablespoons; 5 cc = 1 teaspoon,
and 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon. Since there are 1,000 mL in a liter,
there are 1,000 ccs in a liter as well.
Chapter 5: Biology
11. (C) Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein that makes blood
red.
12. (A) This crossing over takes place in the first stage of meiosis I.
Chromosomes condense and pair up, with homologous partners
matching at corresponding positions to exchange pieces of their
DNA.
13. (B) Usually, larger animals have slower heart rates, making
choice A unlikely. Choice C describes most insects, and choice D
describes most reptiles and amphibians. Fish have a single atrium
and a single ventricle, unlike humans, who have two of each.
Chapter 6: Chemistry
14. (B) The chemical symbol for silver is Ag, short for the Latin
word for silver, argentum. A sulfide is a compound that contains
sulfur ions. In ionic compounds, the name of the metal always
comes first; in this case, silver precedes sulfur.
15. (B) H2CO3 is the formula for carbonic acid. It may be found in
certain carbonated soft drinks. When you pop the top and hear a
fizz, you are witnessing decomposition. The carbonic acid has broken
down, or decomposed, to form water and carbon dioxide, which is
what you hear escaping from the can.
Chapter 7: Anatomy and Physiology

16. (A) The temporal lobes are just above the ears and are critical
to hearing, memory, and language processing. The hippocampus
(choice B) helps to form and store memories. The cerebral cortex
(choice C) controls voluntary movements, reasoning, and thinking.
The occipital lobe (choice D) is connected to vision.
17. (B) The patella, or kneecap, connects to the distal end of the
femur, which is the part of the femur farthest from the torso. Since
the bones are fairly aligned, neither one is closer than the other to
the midline of the body, as medial or lateral would indicate.
18. (A) The biceps brachii (choice B) rotate the forearm and flex the
elbow. The palmaris brevis (choice C) is one of many muscles in the
hand. The latissimus dorsi (choice D) rotates the arms and helps
them to move away from and toward the body. The trapezius (choice
A) mainly controls movements of the scapula, or shoulder blade,
allowing humans to lift their arms, carry heavy objects, and throw
things.
Chapter 8: Physics
19. (B) The velocity of the bowling ball is equal to the momentum
divided by the mass. 224 kg⋅m/s ÷ 32 kg = 7 m/s.
20. (D) The half-life of the substance is the time it takes for it to
decay to half its value. If it decays by half in 4 years, it is half of
one-half, or one-quarter, in 8 years. It is half of one-quarter, or one-
eighth, in 12 years. In 16 years, it is half of that, or one-sixteenth of
its original value.
CHAPTER 1
Reading Comprehension
Concussion
A concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain that can interfere with
the way the brain processes information and functions. A concussion
often results in severe headaches, diminished alertness, and even
unconsciousness.
While over one million people in the United States suffer
concussions every year, many believe that, like people, no two
concussions are identical. Recently two professional baseball players
suffered concussions. The first player was injured early in the
season, tried twice to return to regular play, but was not medically
cleared to play until the following year. Even after eight months, this
player reported a recurring condition of “fogginess” that seemed to
linger. The second player had brief symptoms of sleepiness and
involuntary movement, or “shakiness.” A few days later, and after
several tests, the second player reported that the effects of the
concussion had subsided, and was cleared to play.
No matter the duration of a person’s recovery, refraining from
trying to do too much, too soon is vital. A specialist at Boston
University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy
believes that someone who suffers a second concussion while still
recovering from the first risks an even longer recovery.
Full recovery from concussions is possible. Problems are seldom
permanent and, for most people who have had a concussion, the
long-term prognosis is typically excellent. The first baseball player
recently returned to his team. And though he was told by his
physician that he has no greater risk than anyone else of suffering
another concussion, other physicians believe that suffering one
sports-related concussion increases the likelihood of suffering
another.

(A) Football and lacrosse players suffer the most
concussions.
(B) Over 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.
2. What is the meaning of the word diminished as used in the

first paragraph?
(A) Miniature
(B) Reduced
(C) Recurrent
(D) Hollow

(A) No two concussions are alike. Some people may recover
easily from concussion while others may take weeks or
months. In any case, receiving a second concussion too
soon may mean a lengthy recovery.
(B) When baseball players receive concussions, some take a
long time to recover. Some may try to return to play too
soon and receive a second concussion that ends their
career.
(C) Although most athletes shrug off concussions, they
would be wise to take them seriously. Multiple
concussions can cause serious harm to the brain, which
is rattled around in the skull with each injury.
(D) Recovery from concussion is possible, but it is not always
a good idea to return to play too soon. Some head
injuries are called concussions but do not really qualify as
such.
4. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
(A) To entertain
(B) To analyze
(C) To reflect
(D) To inform
5. Which statement would not be inferred by the reader?

(A) Athletes should be careful after a first concussion.
(B) Severe headache after a fall may be a sign of concussion.
(C) Sports-related concussions are riskier than other kinds.
(D) Symptoms of concussion may linger for over six months.
Obsession Plus Addiction

It is hard to imagine how the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia
could be any worse than they already are, but somehow people have
found a way. Known unofficially as drunkorexia, this condition is a
blend of self-imposed starvation or binging and purging mixed with
alcohol abuse. Anorexics use alcohol either to soothe their
conscience for eating something they feel they should not, or as
their only sustenance. Bulimics binge on alcohol for emotional
reasons and then purge by vomiting all of it back up.
Our current culture’s obsession with thinness, coupled with
widespread acceptance of drug and alcohol abuse, has made this
combination particularly attractive. Dr. Doug Bunnell, former
president of the National Eating Disorders Association, said, “Binge
drinking is almost cool and hip, and losing weight and being thin is a
cultural imperative for young women in America. Mixing both is not
surprising, and it has reached a tipping point in terms of public
awareness.”
Some experts are beginning to explore the possible psychological
and neurological links between eating disorders and substance
abuse. Does eating or binging somehow trigger the same pleasure
centers as drugs or alcohol? Another avenue being explored is what
to do if a person has both conditions.
Treatment for addiction is abstinence, but no one can abstain
completely from food. As Dr. Kevin Wandler, vice president for
medical services at an eating disorders center, phrases it, “Eating
normally would be an effective behavior, but it’s easier to give up
alcohol and drugs because you never need them again. If your drug
is food, that’s a challenge.”
6. Identify the overall tone of the essay.

(A) Dismayed
(B) Fascinated
(C) Reassured
(D) Suspicious
7. What is the meaning of the word abstain as used in the last

paragraph?
(A) Dishonor
(B) Go without
(C) Connect to
(D) Liberate

(A) Anorexics’ use of alcohol as sustenance
(B) Bulimics’ use of alcohol for emotional reasons
(C) Cultural reasons for drunkorexia
(D) Medical cures for drunkorexia

(A) To inform
(B) To persuade
(C) To entertain
(D) To analyze
Sunnyside Up
Most people are familiar with the damaging effects of the sun on
unprotected skin, but not enough attention is paid to the many
positive effects of receiving direct exposure to sunlight on a regular
basis.
The most compelling argument for increased exposure to sunlight
is the need for vitamin D in the human body. Vitamin D is integral for
maintaining healthy bones and preventing diseases like rickets and
osteoporosis. It is synthesized by the skin when it comes into
contact with the UVB rays found in sunlight. In order to ensure you
are receiving the proper amount of vitamin D, it is recommended to
get 15 minutes of direct exposure to sunlight at least two or three
times a week. UVB rays are made less intense when passing through
clouds and pollution, and will not transmit through glass or
sunscreen. UVB rays are also less effective the further in distance
you are from the equator. People with darker skin require more
exposure to the sun to receive the same amount of vitamin D.
In addition to vitamin D, sunlight will help regulate the circadian
rhythms that ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Sunlight helps to
prevent an overactive immune system, which may prove useful in
preventing autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and lupus. Recent
studies have even shown that sunlight can help lessen the symptoms
of Alzheimer’s disease.
The negative impacts of excess exposure to sunlight should not
be ignored; cancers resulting from skin damage are a real concern
that must be taken seriously. But the importance of vitamin D and
the other positive impacts of sunlight make a compelling argument
for making sure we are spending enough time every week in direct
sunlight.
10. What is the main idea of the passage?

(A) There are many positive effects of receiving direct
exposure to sunlight.
(B) The negative impacts of sunlight should not be ignored.
(C) Vitamin D is integral for maintaining healthy bones and
preventing diseases.
(D) Vitamin D is synthesized by our bodies in reaction to
direct sunlight.
11. The term compelling, as used in the second paragraph, can

best be defined as _____.
(A) reasonable
(B) convincing
(C) common
(D) worthwhile

(A) To persuade
(B) To reflect
(C) To entertain
(D) To analyze

(A) Confused
(B) Confident
(C) Disheartened
(D) Disapproving

(A) Light-skinned people need a maximum of 15 minutes a
day in direct sunlight to achieve the benefits of the sun’s
rays. Dark-skinned people may need far more time in the
sun to reap the same benefits.
(B) Spending too much time indoors can wreak havoc with
your circadian rhythms, leach vitamin D from your bones,
and damage your immune system. Exercising outdoors in
direct sunlight or in a room with clear glass is
recommended.
(C) Although negative effects of sunlight are well known,
people should be aware that some sunlight is necessary
and beneficial. Exposure to sunlight increases vitamin D,
improves sleep, and prevents hyperactivity of the
immune system.
(D) You can avoid direct sunlight but still reap the benefits of
a day in the sun by using sunscreen or tinted glass. The
effects of vitamin D are beneficial, so it is wise to spend
some time outdoors while fully protected from the
dangerous rays.
Eating Local Foods

If you spend every Saturday at your local farmers’ market, picking
over the beans and radishes, you are participating in a popular
pastime that has enormous benefits for your community and your
health. A study from Michigan State University suggests a variety of
reasons to buy your food locally.
Support for your local economy and environment makes buying
locally an obvious plus. Why wouldn’t you want your hard-earned
dollars to go to farmers and growers from your own community?
Why wouldn’t you want to help those farmers to retain their land,
which provides your home town or region with open space and acres
of greenery?
You have probably had the experience of buying tomatoes in
winter and finding that they are tasteless and hard. When we eat
locally, we eat foods in their season, meaning that we eat them at
the peak of flavor and ripeness. Shipping fruits or vegetables from
somewhere in South America means that they are picked before
they are ripe and may lose most of their nutrients by the time they
reach your local grocery. In winter, a large percentage of the
produce you see in the grocery comes from locations hundreds of
miles away.
The Michigan State study also points out the hazards involved in
eating food from far away. If vegetables or meat travel from place to
place before arriving at your grocery store, they have multiple
opportunities to become contaminated. A sign on blueberries
showing that they are grown at Fairhaven Farm allows you to do a
bit of research on that farm to discover how they grow their
blueberries. Do they spray them with pesticides? Do they pick fresh
berries daily? When you buy at the farmers’ market, you often have
the opportunity to ask the farmer directly about the food you are
about to consume.
15. The word retain, as used in the second paragraph, most

closely means ____.
(A) contain
(B) keep
(C) cultivate
(D) buy up
16. What is the author’s purpose in writing this essay?

(A) To entertain
(B) To reflect
(C) To evaluate
(D) To persuade

(A) The benefits of eating locally include support for the local
economy and environment as well as better taste,
nutrition, and safety.
(B) People who buy and eat local foods will see improvement
in their health through eating uncontaminated, ripe fruits
and vegetables.
(C) Farmers benefit when people eat locally, which helps to
pump needed dollars into the local economy.
(D) Today’s shipping of vegetables and fruits from far away
means that they lose nutritional value and are likely to be
unripe and tasteless.
18. Which of the following statements is the author’s opinion?

(A) A study from Michigan State University suggests a variety
of reasons to buy your food locally.
(B) Support for your local economy and environment make
buying locally an obvious plus.
(C) In winter, a large percentage of the produce you see in
the grocery store comes from locations hundreds of miles
away.
(D) The Michigan State study also points out the hazards
involved in eating food from far away.

from this passage?
(A) Locally grown produce tastes better than produce that is
shipped from far away.
(B) Everyone should take the time to plant a small garden
plot and grow vegetables.
(C) Farmers’ markets would be more helpful if they were
open every week all year round.
(D) Vegetables and fruits should be purchased locally, but
meat may come from far away.
Yoga
Yoga is an exercise that everyone should try. Yoga was first practiced
thousands of years ago. It helps connect the mind and body by
taking a person through a series of poses while emphasizing
controlled breathing and meditation. Every year hundreds of
thousands of people enjoy the benefits of yoga by treating the
movements and postures as exercise.
Yoga works by safely stretching muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
This helps release the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles that can
often cause stiffness, tension, and even pain. Yoga helps develop the
body’s range of mobility and increases the ease of everyday
movements. Many participants report improved flexibility, especially
in the trunk and shoulders, after only two months of practice. Yoga
improves posture, balance, and sleep, and it also helps with weight
control.
Physically, many yoga poses help build upper-body strength,
which is increasingly important as the body ages. Other poses help
strengthen the muscles in the lower back, and when properly
practiced, nearly all of the poses strengthen the body’s abdominal,
or core, muscles. This helps improve the circulation of blood that
increases the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the body, and also
removes wastes produced by the body. When combined with yoga’s
benefit of lowering a person’s heart rate, the result is increased
cardiovascular endurance.
The University of Maryland School of Nursing recently published a
study that showed yoga was especially effective at reducing stress.
In addition, researchers found that yoga surpassed traditional
aerobic exercise, often significantly, in improving flexibility, pain
tolerance, and daily energy levels. One enthusiast says that her
advice to skeptics is simple, “Take a deep breath, stretch, and
indulge in a few poses. You’ll feel better.”

(A) Earnest
(B) Negative
(C) Self-satisfied
(D) Skeptical
21. What is the meaning of the word tolerance as used in the

last paragraph?
(A) Open-mindedness
(B) Approval
(C) Endurance
(D) Generosity
22. The passage lists all of these benefits of yoga except _____.
(A) improved circulation
(B) strengthening of core muscles
(C) stress reduction
(D) fortification of immune system
(A) To persuade
(B) To entertain
(C) To analyze
(D) To reflect
Hypothermia in Infants
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body loses heat faster than
it produces heat. Someone your age may end up with hypothermia
from being outside on a frosty day for hours without adequate warm
clothing. An elderly person may develop the condition after sitting in
an air conditioned room for a prolonged period of time. However,
hypothermia in infants is the most common of all, and potentially the
most dangerous.
Infants lose body heat faster than adults do. They have a higher
ratio of surface area (skin) to volume, so cold on the outside is more
easily turned into cold on the inside, which can be dangerous. In
addition, they are unable to use shivering to keep themselves warm,
meaning that they burn fat instead. That fact can mean that a baby
kept in cold temperatures will grow at a slower rate than a baby who
is warm.
Signs of hypothermia in infants include red skin (especially on the
extremities) that is cold to the touch, low energy, weak crying, and
failure to eat. The baby should be rewarmed and then kept in
warmer clothing away from air conditioning or drafts. Carrying the
baby next to the parent in a kangaroo-style sling is one means of
keeping him or her warm. When that is not possible, dressing the
infant in a warm onesie with socks and a hat can suffice. Never
cover a newborn with multiple blankets; instead, dress the baby
appropriately to maintain a normal body temperature.
New parents would be wise to remember that the newborn has
spent nine months in a moist climate with temperatures ranging in
the high 90s. Napping by the window on a pleasant 80-degree day
can feel shockingly cold to that newborn.
from this passage?
(A) Babies born in summer have an advantage over babies
born in colder months.
(B) A baby with red skin on the arms and legs should
immediately be rewarmed.
(C) Babies are more sensitive to changes in temperature
than adults are.
(D) Parents of newborns are unaware of the dangers of open
windows and air conditioning.

(A) Annoyed
(B) Respectful
(C) Fascinated
(D) Cautionary
26. Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the

passage?
(A) Elderly people are also prone to hypothermia.
(B) Blue lips are one sign that a child is too cold.
(C) Slings are one means of keeping small babies warm.
(D) You should never put a baby under heavy blankets.
27. The word suffice, as used in paragraph 3, most closely

means _____.
(A) oversee
(B) make sure of
(C) be enough
(D) check up on

(A) Shivering is a learned response that infants do not have.
(B) Keeping a newborn warm is a critical task of new
parents.
(C) Serious hypothermia can be a life-or-death issue for
infants.
(D) Certain low-weight infants may be too cold to thrive.
Aromatherapy—Fact or Fiction?
For years, aromatherapy has been touted as a safe and natural way
to relax and even heal. Essential oils from a variety of scents have
been added to candles and sprays to help people feel better.
However, a recent study performed at Ohio State University says
that these smells, as nice as they may be, do not do a thing to
improve people’s health.
To find out if aromatherapy actually works, the researchers tested
two of the most popular scents: lemon and lavender. First, test
subjects had their heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones, and
immune function measured and noted. Next, they were subjected to
mild stressors and then told to sniff one of the scents to see if the
scent would help them to relax. Finally, all the subjects were tested
again to look for improvement. There were no significant changes
noted—even in people who had previously stated they were true
believers in the power of aromatherapy.
Of course, this does not necessarily prove that aromatherapy is
worthless, either. It was just one small study, pitted against the
opinions of thousands of consumers who swear by peppermint on
their pillow for an upset stomach or vanilla for a headache. More
tests will be done, but in the meantime, a whiff of lavender, lemon,
or other scents will certainly do no harm—and can be quite pleasant
at the same time.

from this passage?
(A) Aromatherapy is not a legitimate therapy by anyone’s
standards.
(B) Lemon and lavender are not healthy scents to inhale or
use.
(C) More studies are needed to determine if aromatherapy is
truly beneficial.
(D) Adding aromatherapy to regular treatment will help
speed healing.
30. What is the meaning of the word touted as used in the first
paragraph?
(A) Revealed
(B) Glorified
(C) Overcome
(D) Deceived

(A) Congratulatory
(B) Uncertain
(C) Annoyed
(D) Distressed

passage?
(A) Subjects were given mild stressors.
(B) Lemon and lavender scents were tested.
(C) Vanilla worked better than lemon for stress.
(D) The study took place at Ohio State University.
Electronic Health Records

In 2009, the HITECH Act was signed into law as a means of
encouraging widespread use of electronic health records. This
reflected the ongoing movement of industry and government into
computerization of recordkeeping, and it transformed many hospitals
and clinics into nearly paperless offices.
One goal of electronic health records (EHRs) is to produce one
seamless record for each patient that follows that patient around the
health care system. Records might include vital signs, medical
history, immunizations, blood work, symptoms, allergies, and so on.
This information may then be shared among organizations, so that
an elderly patient X who starts in surgery may have records sent
easily to a rehabilitation facility and then to home health care and
the patient’s local pharmacy. This can ensure that everyone dealing
with patient X is on the same page when it comes to his care, and it
eliminates the need for multiple printouts or faxes.
A well-constructed EHR system includes tools for clinical decision
support (CDS), so that a physician may quickly search for specific
information that applies to a given patient. Knowing that patient X is
allergic to certain antibiotics, for example, the physician may easily
access a list of alternatives that would be appropriate for post-
surgical care.
A third aspect of EHRs is the computerized physician order entry
(CPOE). Through this system, physicians may transmit orders to the
nursing staff, physical therapists, pharmacists, and so on. Estimates
indicate that computerizing orders using standardized wording and
abbreviations may reduce medication errors by as much as 80
percent.
No system is foolproof, and EHRs may be costly and difficult to
initiate. The information within the system is only as good as the
people who enter it. However, all indications are that organizations
with strong EHRs are more efficient and less accident-prone than
those that still use paper.
33. The word seamless in the second paragraph most closely

means _____.
(A) unified
(B) perfect
(C) stitched
(D) paperless

(A) Many hospitals and clinics are using EHRs instead of
paper records, but progress is slow.
(B) Along with EHRs, health care organizations may use
CPOEs and tools for CDS.
(C) EHRs can make it easier to communicate, record, and
maintain patient records.
(D) Without good EHRs, medical personnel are more likely to
make critical errors.
35. Which of the following statements is an opinion?

(A) In 2009, the HITECH Act was signed into law as a means
of encouraging widespread use of electronic health
records.
(B) Records might include vital signs, medical history,
immunizations, blood work, symptoms, allergies, and so
on.
(C) A third aspect of EHRs is the computerized physician
order entry (CPOE).
(D) No system is foolproof, and EHRs may be costly and
difficult to initiate.
36. What conclusion can you draw from the first sentence of
paragraph 2?
(A) Transportation of patients is one important factor
controlled by EHRs.
(B) Before EHRs, a patient might have multiple records kept
by multiple doctors.
(C) Patients will now be served by a single physician or
medical group instead of many.
(D) The health care system too often loses track of a patient
who moves within the system.

passage?
(A) The kinds of records that might make up an EHR.
(B) Current percentages of medical facilities using EHRs.
(C) The kinds of workers who might receive doctors’ orders.
(D) Estimates of the reduction in human error with
computerized orders.
Studying Alzheimer’s
Years of research have proven that Alzheimer’s disease, along with
other types of dementia, elevates the risk of dying early in the
majority of patients. In a recent study performed by the Institute of
Public Health at the University of Cambridge, scientists set out to
determine just exactly how long people were likely to survive
following the onset of dementia.
Currently, approximately 24 million people throughout the world
suffer from the memory loss and orientation confusion that comes
with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. That number
appears to double every 20 years, and experts predict that by the
year 2040, there will be 81 million people living with some level of
the condition. The more researchers and doctors can learn about
what causes the problem, as well as how to treat it, the better
prepared they will be to handle these millions of future patients.
To determine how people’s life spans are affected by this medical
condition, the scientists studied 13,000 seniors for a period of 14
years. During that time, 438 people developed dementia, the vast
majority of whom died. The factors of age, disability, and gender
were analyzed to see how they affected longevity as well.
Conclusions from the study showed that women tended to live
slightly longer than men, averaging 4.6 years from the onset of
dementia, as opposed to 4.1 years for men. The patients who were
already weak or frail at the onset of dementia died first, regardless
of age. Marital status, living environment, and degree of mental
decline, although relevant factors, were not shown to be influential.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge hope that this new
information will help patients, clinicians, care providers, service
providers, policymakers, and others who deal with dementia. The
more they know, the better they will be able to respond to this
heartbreaking condition.
(A) More than 24 million people suffer from some form of
dementia.
(B) A recent study looked at the longevity of dementia
sufferers.
(C) Women with dementia live slightly longer than men do.
(D) Dementia is a heartbreaking disease that is hard on
families.
39. What is the meaning of the word onset as used in the first
paragraph?
(A) Cure rate
(B) Incubation period
(C) Remainder
(D) Commencement

(A) To persuade
(B) To entertain
(C) To inform
(D) To analyze

(A) Anxious
(B) Irate
(C) Indifferent
(D) Sympathetic

(A) Marital status, age, and gender seem not to be issues in
the longevity of patients who suffer from dementia. Out
of 438 people with dementia, the vast majority were
dead within a few years.
(B) In hopes of discovering information that can assist with
care for dementia patients, Cambridge researchers
studied 13,000 seniors. They found that dementia
sufferers lived on average slightly over four years.
(C) Alzheimer’s is just one form of dementia, a medical
condition that affects millions and whose prevalence is
expected to increase greatly over the next few decades.
(D) Researchers at Cambridge University have discovered
that men with dementia live longer than women with the
condition, but frailty is a definite indicator of an early
death in patients with dementia.
Underage Drinkers and TV Ads

A recent study from Johns Hopkins indicates a strong correlation
between television advertising for alcohol and the drinking behavior
of underage youth. It appears that young people are three times
more likely to drink brands they see advertised on television
compared to other brands, regardless of price or other factors.
The study has many calling for a reduction of exposure of young
people to alcohol advertising, just as people insisted on removal of
cigarette advertising from television back in 1970. In that year, the
Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act banned any such ads on radio
or television and required stronger health warnings on packaging.
Will the current study lead to a similar ban for alcohol? It would
be a hard sell for the television industry. Right now, it is estimated
that close to half of all ads teenagers see on television are for
alcohol. In the first four months of 2014 alone, Bud Light spent
$84.3 million on television ads, and the beer industry as a whole
spent close to half a billion.
At present, the only regulation on alcohol advertising is self-
regulation. Many beer companies and vodka manufacturers include
ads urging moderation. However, the message that young people
receive, despite the industry’s seemingly good intentions, is that
buying that brand is a good idea.
Earlier studies have shown that exposure to alcohol advertising
increases the likelihood that young people will drink. This study
expands on that by showing that what they will drink is motivated by
the ads themselves. Young people are brand-conscious, and given
the choice, they will go with the brand that they have seen
associated with people or images that appeal to them.

(A) To inform
(B) To entertain
(C) To reflect
(D) To persuade
44. Which of the following is not mentioned as a result of the

Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act?
(A) Banning of radio ads
(B) Banning of print ads
(C) Banning of television ads
(D) Requirement of stronger warnings
45. What does the word moderation mean in paragraph 4?

(A) Normality
(B) Compromise
(C) Calmness
(D) Self-restraint

(A) Young adults drink more when they are watching
television.
(B) The brands young people drink are driven by the ads
they see.
(C) Keeping beer ads off television will prevent underage
drinking.
(D) Liquor ads should be banned just as cigarette ads once
were.

(A) Only beer advertising has an ill effect on young viewers.
(B) Young people seem to be extremely brand-conscious.
(C) The TV industry would be likely to fight a ban on alcohol
ads.
(D) Cigarette ads do not appear on American television.
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a form of the
Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that is resistant to antibiotics, and
as a result is very difficult to treat. MRSA now kills more Americans
every year than HIV/AIDS, and the rates of infection are rising.
Methicillin is an antibiotic that was introduced in the 1960s as a
way of combating the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that is
ubiquitous in hospitals. Within a year, doctors began finding strains
of bacteria that had already developed immunity to methicillin. By
the 1990s, MRSA had become the leading hospital-acquired skin
infection in the United States. At the same time MRSA started
appearing outside of hospitals. These were different strains of the
bacteria, but just as dangerous, and spreading just as quickly. In the
past 15 years, MRSA bacteria have become ubiquitous not only in
hospitals, but in gyms, locker rooms, swimming pools, and any other
settings where human contact is common.
Researchers in Ireland are developing a technology that may
significantly halt the spread of the hospital-associated MRSA
bacteria. They have developed a textile consisting of nanomaterials
1,000 times smaller than a human hair; these textiles are shown to
halt the spread of infection and can be used for linens, drapes, and
upholstery in hospitals. The potential for this technology to reduce
the instances of hospital-associated MRSA is staggering.
You can reduce your risk for community-associated MRSA
infection by regularly washing your hands, covering all open wounds
with a clean bandage, and not sharing any personal items such as
razors or towels.
Another random document with
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Y me responden todas ellas:
—Para embellecer más y más nuestros naturales atractivos.
—Y ¿por qué queréis embellecerlos más y más?—vuelvo á
preguntar.
—Por rendir culto á un sentimiento de amor á lo bello, que es innato
en nosotras—vuelven á responderme;—por parecer bien, como se
dice vulgarmente.
—Y ¿qué es eso de parecer bien, tratándose de la mujer?—insisto.
—Causar cierta complacencia en los hombres de buen gusto, y la
mayor curiosidad posible en las mujeres de nuestra esfera,—me
responden aún.
—Y ¿qué pasa por los hombres cuando se deleitan en la
contemplación de los hechizos de una mujer?...
Aquí callan éstas, quizá por ignorancia, acaso por prudencia; pero
callan. Mas, en su defecto, responde la experiencia de mis francos
lectores:
—Un deseo más ó menos vehemente, más ó menos pronunciado,
de esos mismos hechizos.
—Luego—concluyo yo,—la mujer que adorna sus naturales gracias
con el fin de embellecerlas más y más á los ojos voraces de los
hombres, si deliberadamente no provoca el asedio de éstos, da,
cuando menos, ocasión á él. Esto es lógica pura.
Ahora bien: no tengo inconveniente en admitir esta conclusión para
la mujer soltera, que, al cabo, con ese anzuelo se pescan casi todos
los maridos; pero la que ya le tiene, ¿debe ostensiblemente
aceptarla para sí? ¿Puede, acaso, sin su propio desdoro? No,
seguramente.
Y aquí me sale al encuentro un hecho que se está dando testerazos
con esta ley.
Mientras la mujer es soltera, las faltas que cometa refluyen sobre
ella exclusivamente, y nadie más que ella paga, á costa de su
porvenir, las flaquezas ó debilidades de su fortaleza; pero desde el
momento en que se casa, todos sus deslices redundan en
desprestigio, en desdoro de su marido. Pues bien: el hombre sabe
esto (¡como que en su egoísmo lo ha dictado él como una ley
social!), y sin embargo, en su ciega obstinación, cuando se trata de
la hija, toda precaución se le antoja escasa, y cuando se trata de la
esposa, toda libertad le parece poca. Á la primera le exige un
guardián asalariado para la calle, cuando carece de una madre ó de
una hermana, no soltera, que le preste el amparo de su autoridad; le
tasa el número y la clase de los espectáculos y las horas de paseo;
le prescribe el modo de andar, las expresiones del rostro y los
asuntos de sus conversaciones; le fija el color, la calidad, la forma
de sus vestidos, y hasta le impone las horas de descanso y los
platos de su comida. Á la segunda, ni una traba, ni una restricción
en su conducta pública ó privada: es libre como el aire; va por donde
quiere y cómo y cuando quiere; viste lo que más le gusta; habla de
lo que se le antoja y se ocupa en lo que más le agrada. En suma: á
la doncella, todas las seguridades; á la casada, á su propia mujer,
es decir, á su propio honor, todos los peligros. Áteme usted esa
perspicacia por donde pueda... y prosigamos.
Decía que la mujer casada no aceptaría jamás, ostensiblemente,
como móvil de su presunción, el efecto sensual que he definido; al
contrario, sostienen todas que al rendir á la moda ese ostentoso
testimonio de adoración, no les anima otro afán que el de satisfacer
esa misma pasión; que visten, que bailan y que pasean como el
gastrónomo come y bebe el sediento y estudia el sabio; pero que,
en todo caso, aun cuando (y esto lo dicen en confianza y muy
bajito), aun cuando el efecto que causan en el otro sexo sus
exhibiciones y coqueterías les fuera previamente conocido, ningún
peligro corrían en ello, ni tampoco sus maridos, supuesto que el
sentimiento de los deberes, su educación, etc., etc... se opondrían, y
que es un agravio hasta hacerlas capaces, por un instante, de
exponerse siquiera á... y que su distinción por arriba, y que su
dignidad por abajo... En fin, que no puede ser.
Yo voy á demostrar que sí.
Al efecto, examinemos su tesis. «Que visten y bailan y triunfan por
el mero afán de vestir, de bailar y de triunfar; y que aunque otra cosa
fuera, ningún riesgo corrían en ello ni su honra ni la de sus
maridos».
Tenemos aquí dos aseveraciones, á cual más importante, que
rebatir; y para proceder en orden y con mejor éxito, empiezo
haciéndome cargo de la primera.
La mujer que necesito para ejemplo la conoce perfectamente el
lector, y se la encuentra todos los días en la calle, en los entierros,
en el teatro, en el paseo, en las tiendas; en todas partes, menos en
su casa. El invierno, el verano, el frío, el calor, la lluvia, el sol, las
tinieblas, la alegría, las lágrimas de los demás... todas las
estaciones, todas las horas, todas las circunstancias climatéricas,
meteorológicas y astronómicas; todas las preocupaciones, todos los
acontecimientos sociales, políticos y religiosos, la ayudan en su
empresa: todo lo explota para sus fines.—Con el barro, se luce una
bota hecha ad hoc en Francia; sobre el polvo, se arrastran unas
enaguas que harían la fortuna de un pobre; con el frío, se ostentan
las ricas pieles y el pesado terciopelo; con el calor, las gasas leves;
de noche, el abrigo fantástico; en el duelo, la mantilla de encajes, el
rosario de gruesos corales ó las doradas cifras del devocionario relié
en oloroso cuero; en el baile, en los salones... ¡oh, aquí todos los
recursos de la fortuna, de la naturaleza y de la coquetería!—Esta
mujer no existe solamente en los grandes centros de la elegancia;
existe también en la más humilde capital de provincia. En la corte
será su teatro más grande, más aparatoso; pero su papel es el
mismo en los pueblos provincianos, con la ventaja de ser en éstos
sus relumbrones de mayor efecto, su vocación más enérgica, su
voluntad más decidida. En una como en otra región, este tipo vive
para todo menos para su familia, y de todos se deja ver menos de
sus hijos y de su cocinera. Los demás puntos de diferencia importan
poco ó nada en los tiempos que corremos; y lejos de las etiquetas
palaciegas, una ejecutoria de rancia nobleza se suple fácilmente con
un caudal efectivo... ó aparente, con un destino bien remunerado, ó
con uno de esos créditos de prestidigitación que, por más que no se
conciban en su origen, se dejan apreciar á cada paso en sus
efectos.—La posesión de cualquiera de estos diplomas y un palmito
regular, bastan á una mujer vana para hacerla creer que no es
vulgo, que es distinguida.—Inmediatamente, no conformándose con
que su propio convencimiento se lo diga, exige el testimonio de
alguno más; después no le basta que dos, diez ó veinte que la
hallan al paso se lo confirmen: necesita hacerse sentir en todo el
círculo de sus semejantes.—Así se lanza á la carrera del buen tono.
—Si el porvenir se vislumbra en ella, se observa entonces que
adquiere popularidad en esta esfera su hechizo especial;
verbigracia, la pantorrilla, un lunar en el hombro... algo que
pertenezca al catálogo de lo oculto y á la jurisdicción exclusiva de
los ojos de su marido.—Es de advertir que cada mujer de esta
madera tiene su especialidad por el estilo, y también es de notar que
no ignora que los hombres la conocen en todos sus detalles... y que
no la conocen éstos por haber sondeado con ojo profano los
misterios del tocador, sino porque ella la ha puesto coram pópulo
con la frecuencia necesaria y en ocasión oportuna.—Así las cosas,
necesita popularizarse toda entera; y, por ende, aspira á que de ella
se hable como del sol; que nadie ponga en duda sus resplandores;
á que sean proverbiales su belleza y su elegancia, hasta entre
aquéllos que no la han visto. Si lo consigue, un síntoma infalible se
lo da á entender: deja de ser señora, y se convierte simplemente en
Fulana de Tal, sin más doña, ni más de, ni otra zarandaja; ó en
Fulanita, ó Fula, ó Fulita Tal; con la cual contracción, tan lisa y llana,
la citan siempre en sus recuerdos, pollos, modistas, solterones,
cursis y demás gente nociva... y la prensa, si la hay en el pueblo,
que sí la habrá, gracias á Dios, para sahumerio, cuando menos, de
estos ídolos, y decirnos si van ó si vienen, ó si vestían de nube ó de
carámbano la noche de la recepción de X ó de Z.—La popularidad
en esta forma es la consagración del apetecido encumbramiento de
la heroína.—Los hombres la admiran y la codician; las mujeres la
odian. Triunfo completo.
Substancia de todo este potaje: una mujer á la moda, que aspira
siempre, y en ocasiones llega, á ser una mujer de moda.
Esta aspiración significa: una lucha sin cuartel con todas y cada una
de las mujeres que se dirigen al mismo fin, y con las que á él han
llegado ya; arrancar á éstas el cetro y conquistar á todas ellas su
corte, ó sean sus apasionados satélites.
Entre éstos hay mucho tonto, es verdad: muchos hombres que sólo
anhelan que el público los vea en familiar inteligencia con el astro de
moda; pero los hay también muy diestros y muy pegajosos, que van
derechos al bulto, y no gustan de perder el tiempo en escarceos
inocentes.
Es preciso, pues, tolerar á los unos; transigir, hasta cierto punto, con
los otros, y mostrarse afable, nada escrupulosa y un tantico
insinuante con todos. (Aquí asoma la oreja la causa de la publicidad
del precitado hechizo secreto). Y poner en juego el arsenal de
recursos que tal campaña exige; defenderse, acometer, herir con
ellos, según las circunstancias, y no conocer sus respectivos efectos
la misma persona que los maneja con magistral habilidad, ¿es
posible acaso?
Concediendo cuanto en este asunto puede concederse, admito que
no sea la sensación de marras en el otro sexo el móvil único y
exclusivo de los alardes públicos de esta mujer; pero negar que la
conoce y que la acepta como el arma más poderosa para llegar al
fin que se propone... es imposible, porque está á la vista.
Y demostrada así la falsedad de su primera aseveración, paso á
destruir la segunda; tarea harto fácil en verdad.
«Que aun conociendo la mujer casada el susodicho efecto; aun
siendo éste el móvil de sus afanes, ni para su honra ni para la de su
marido hay peligro en entregarse á ellos».
Demos de lado todo lo que se viene preceptuando, desde Jesucristo
hasta el último de nuestros moralistas, acerca de la conducta
pública y privada que debe observar una buena esposa: fuera este
arma, por su temple, demasiado ventajosa para mí; y arguyendo
sólo al sentido común, prescindamos también del estado, y
consideremos á la mujer como sexo simplemente. Y ahora
respóndaseme:—la que tiene por oficio hacer ostentación pública de
sus atractivos morales, físicos y artificiales; aceptar lisonjas y
galanteos, y resistir más de un asedio tenaz, ¿se expone á sucumbir
en la lucha?—Es evidente que sí; y aunque la historia de la humana
debilidad no lo enseñara, me lo confirmaría el hombre mismo, el
vencedor en esas luchas, poniendo un guardián á la virtud de su
hija, de cuyas fuerzas desconfía, porque él las ha probado en otro
terreno análogo.
Y si la hija es débil, ¿por qué no ha de serlo la esposa joven?
¿Tienen acaso distinta naturaleza?
Pero aún quiero suponer, cerrando los ojos á la elocuencia de los
mil desastres conyugales que recuerdo, que todas las mujeres de
moda salen vencedoras é incólumes de sus luchas. La fama que en
ellas adquieren pregona la posibilidad, y, muy á menudo, las
probabilidades de todo lo contrario.
Una mujer casada, como la del tipo que nos ocupa, lo primero de
que prescinde es de sus deberes domésticos, de los derechos, de la
autoridad, de la consideración, de todo lo que se refiere á su marido.
Pues este síntoma, según Balzac, hombre competentísimo en la
materia, se presenta siempre que la mujer está resuelta á profanar
la fe conyugal; y no es lo peor que lo diga él, sino que los hechos
comprueban, con una precisión horrible, la exactitud de la máxima.
Callo, en obsequio á la especie, la definición que da el mismo
filósofo de la mujer que vive, como ésta, de sus vanidades
mundanas: sus adjetivos sacan sangre, y yo no soy cruel.
Recomiendo, en su defecto, la no menos autorizada opinión, aunque
más suave, del sublime Cervantes, á propósito del mismo asunto.
«La buena mujer, dice, no alcanza la buena fama solamente con ser
buena, sino con parecerlo».
Verdad es que las aludidas podrán objetar á este sabio dictamen:
«Nosotras no buscamos buena fama, sino que, conservando la que
ya tenemos adquirida, vamos, en alas de nuestro gusto, por la
atmósfera de nuestras inclinaciones».
Pero es el caso que el sutil manco, como si previera esta objeción,
añadió, para confundirla, la siguiente friolera:
«Mucho más dañan á la honra de las mujeres las desenvolturas y
libertades públicas, que las maldades secretas.»
Aunque esta máxima es contundente, yo quiero todavía prescindir
de ella para dar la mayor amplitud posible á la defensa de las
acusadas.
«Balzac y Cervantes», podrán decir éstas, «no pasan de ser dos
hombres de mucho talento... según fama, pues nosotras jamás los
hemos visto en la sociedad, y, por tanto, sus opiniones no son al
cabo más que dos opiniones particulares».
Aceptando yo, por un momento, tamaña herejía, en mi propósito de
atacar al enemigo (vamos al decir) en sus trincheras, apelo ahora á
la sinceridad de los mismos satélites de esas señoras, ó, lo que es
igual, sus apasionados, sus aduladores, sus amigos, las personas
que más las admiran, acatan, estiman y consideran, y les pregunto:
—Resueltos á casaros, ¿elegiríais para mujer propia á una de
ésas?...
Pongo las dos orejas por la negativa.
Ergo... No formulo la consecuencia, porque está en la mente de
todos, hasta en la de las aludidas, aun desde antes que yo
estableciera como premisas los hechos consignados hasta aquí.
Una vez demostrada la existencia del peligro para la mujer, es
evidente, por necesidad, el del hombre, que, á este propósito, no es
más que un cuerpo con la desdichada virtud de reflejar, en tamaño
centuplicado, la menor de las máculas de la honra de su adjunta.
Habrán observado ustedes que á medida que adquiere popularidad
en el mundo el nombre de una mujer, va olvidándose el de su
marido; y que cuando la primera está en la cumbre de su triunfal
carrera, cuando se la cita en todas partes con la llaneza que más
atrás indiqué, el segundo ha perdido todos sus títulos personales.
Verbigracia:
—¿Quién es ese sujeto?—pregunto, al pasar junto á uno que, sin
saber por qué, me llama la atención.
—El marido de Fulanita de Tal,—me responden.
No tengo más que averiguar... Ya sé que aquel sujeto es... nadie,
menos que nadie, el que paga los despilfarros de la mujer cuyo
nombre arrastra.
No puede darse, para un nieto de Caín, una condición más
humillante, un desprestigio más lastimoso.
Pues esto es lo menos que le cuesta á un marido la gloria de serlo
de una mujer de moda, ¡lo menos!
Y, sin embargo, con ello habría sobrado para... Les aseguro á
ustedes que, pensando en la posibilidad de despertar de un sueño
semejante, se concibe hasta la morcilla municipal.
La idea de esta posible catástrofe me excusa de extender mis
consideraciones hasta los casos de lesión enormísima en el honor
conyugal por los propios excesos elegantes de la mujer.
El lector, no obstante, puede discurrir sobre este tema, y de su
cuenta y riesgo, cuanto guste: yo, entre tanto, voy á permitirme
hacer una salvedad, que juzgo necesaria en mis inofensivos
propósitos.
Al condenar la pasión desenfrenada del lujo y de la popularidad en
la mujer casada, no pretendo someter á ésta á su antigua condición
de esclava, ni transformarla en beata gazmoña, ni condenarla á
perpetua clausura: tan peligroso sería cualquiera de estos extremos
como el otro para la felicidad conyugal.—El menos severo de los
moralistas cristianos, dice: time Deum et fac quod vis.—En la
necesidad de formular yo mi pensamiento sobre el asunto en
cuestión, diría algo parecido á este sabio precepto á las señoras
mujeres... «Cumplid con vuestros deberes de esposas, y después
haced lo que os acomode»; bien entendido que, sujetándose ellas á
la condición de la primera cláusula, no me apuraría por verlas
disfrutar ampliamente de la libertad entendida en la segunda. Ni la
visita, ni el vestido, ni el paseo, ni el mismo rigodón, aliquando,
presentarían entonces á mis ojos el menor síntoma alarmante.
Sin embargo, antes de solemnizar este contrato, precisaría con toda
claridad un punto interesantísimo, para evitar ulteriores disgustos: yo
entiendo por deberes de esposa su atención constante hacia esos
mil detalles domésticos que constituyen el fundamento de la vida
íntima, desde el estrado hasta la cocina, desde los calcetines del
niño hasta el ropero del marido... ¡Oh, el marido sobre todo! Sus
derechos, su prestigio; nada antes que él. La tan ilustre por el
talento como por la cuna, la condesa Dash, dice á este propósito:
«tu único, tu urgente negocio (se dirige á la mujer casada) es
agradar á tu marido, conservar su ternura y esparcir en torno
vuestro un aura de poesía que le impida pensar en otra cosa... Vela
tú misma por lo que él tenga en más estima, y no confíes á los
criados el cuidado de su ropa y de su gabinete: debe encontrarte en
todo cuanto le rodee, y agradecer tus cuidados y tu amor».
Elijo de intento esta autoridad, porque su doble carácter de mujer y
de mujer del gran mundo, presta al consejo mayor importancia. Las
razones en que le funda esta célebre escritora, pueden servir á la
vez como testimonio de mi sinceridad al proponer semejante plan de
conducta; «No olvides, continúa, que el marido es el jefe, por Dios y
por la ley, por la sociedad y por la naturaleza: tú eres débil, él es tu
apoyo y tu protector... ¡y nada más dulce que ser protegida por
aquél á quien se ama!»
Conspirando á un fin tan dichoso, no cabe egoísmo en proponer los
medios que yo he propuesto, ni aceptándolos es posible verlos por
su lado prosaico.
De acuerdo sobre este punto ella y yo, firmaría, con la fe de un
bienaventurado, el convenio de más atrás... et si non, non;
entonces, y sólo entonces, le diría sin el menor recelo: «haz lo que
te dé la gana»; entonces, y sólo entonces, la vería, sin
estremecerme, abarrotar su tocador, porque seguro estaría de que,
al encerrarse en él, conforme al consejo de la misma ilustre señora,
«para asearse, todo le parecería poco; para pintarse, todo le
parecería mucho», fórmula cuya aparente trivialidad abarca entero
el modelo de una mujer discreta.
Mientras á él se ajustan las de mi cuento (que no se ajustarán),
retournons à nos moutons; es decir, vuelvo á mi tema.
—No comprendo cómo es la mujer casada la que da el tono en
paseos, salones y espectáculos, siendo tan notorios los riesgos que
en la empresa corre el prestigio de su marido... He dicho mal:
comprendo que la mujer casada aspire á esos triunfos de su
vanidad, y que á ellos consagre todos sus afanes; lo que al sentido
común se resiste es que lo tolere, y hasta lo aplauda (¡borrego!) su
marido.
Por eso dije al principio, y lo he demostrado con un ejemplo más,
que el hombre se acostumbra á todo.
Ahora, si ustedes me preguntan que cómo este supremo legislador
de costumbres, egoísta y tiranuelo por naturaleza, arregló las cosas
de tal manera; cómo promulgó esa ley cuya ejecución había de caer
sobre su propia mollera á modo de infamante coroza; cómo, en fin,
se colocó, pudiendo evitarlo, en la necesidad de mostrar tan inaudita
mansedumbre; si ustedes, repito, me preguntan esto... tampoco
sabré dar una respuesta satisfactoria, porque no soy fatalista. Y á fe
que, si lo fuera, nunca podría citar con mayor oportunidad que
ahora, el tan sabido apotegma pagano:
Quos Júpiter vult perdere, dementat priús.
1870.
EL TIRANO DE LA ALDEA[3]
Cándidos hay todavía que creen que existe sobre la tierra algún
rinconcillo donde es posible la paz del espíritu, y, como
consecuencia inmediata, el perfecto equilibrio de los humores.
Las grandes pasiones, los choques infinitos de los múltiples
elementos y encontradas tendencias que constituyen la vida social
en los grandes centros de población, aturden al hombre pacífico y
sedentario.
—¡Dichoso el campesino—exclama á menudo,—que vive sin ruido,
sin política, sin literatos, sin filosofía, sin periódicos, sin gas, sin
talleres... y sin guantes! El sol refulgente, la pradera florida, el verde
follaje, el río murmurando, la dulce brisa, las mieses fecundas, la
sonora esquila y el santo trabajo á la luz del astro vivificante, para
depositar en las entrañas de la madre tierra el leve grano que,
bendecido por la mano de Dios, ha de producir la suculenta
hogaza... Ésta es la vida. ¡Gloria á Dios en las alturas, y paz á los
hombres de buena voluntad!
Concédanme ustedes que no hay versión más admitida entre los
desengañados de la civilización. Pero ¿dónde está ese rincón
bendecido?
Yo le buscara con más ahinco que el ilustre genovés el Nuevo
Mundo entre los misterios del virgen Océano; yo trocara estos
hábitos, refinados por la civilización, por el burdo ropaje del labriego,
y la pluma con que trazo estos rasgos por el timón del arado, si bajo
los duros pliegues del tosco vellón y revolviendo las costras de la
tierra, callaran todos mis deseos, renacieran mis juveniles
esperanzas, tornara á mi imaginación el color de las rosas, y rendido
mi cuerpo por el trabajo de todo un día, hallara, aunque en pobre
lecho, el perfecto reposo... Y eso, lector, que no soy, á Dios gracias,
de los más infortunados mortales; que mato con repugnancia hasta
el insecto que me destruye las flores del jardín, y no he robado al
vecino ni á la Hacienda el pan que comen mis hijos. ¡Qué fuera,
gran Dios, si me infundiera espanto la guardia civil! ¡Ah! Podrán
variar hasta el infinito el peso y la calidad de la cruz, según las
fuerzas y la condición de quien la lleve á cuestas; pero es innegable
que allí donde existe un hombre, hay una cruz que le agobia.
Lo del aire puro, lo de la luz radiante, lo de la humilde choza ó del
soberbio palacio, lo del paño burdo y del frac ridículo, aunque son la
verdad pura, no pasan de ser meros detalles de paisaje, simples
accidentes del inevitable Calvario social en que hemos de morir
crucificados.
Cierto es que el sencillo aldeano no conoce el tufillo de las
modernas industrias, ni el de los artículos de fondo, ni se ha inscrito
en la Internacional, ni frecuenta el Salón de Conferencias, ni está al
tanto de los motivos primordiales de ciertas crisis ruidosas, ni da una
higa por todos los derechos políticos, ni conoce las visitas de
etiqueta; pero no es menos cierto que paga los desmanes, y las
ambiciones, y las calaveradas de los periódicos y de la
Internacional, y las intrigas de los pasillos del Congreso... y hasta las
alfombras de los pasillos. Con sus hijos, porque la gente ilustrada
armó un cisco gordo, y se necesitan hombres para defender al
Gobierno y á las instituciones que se hallan en peligro; con sus
pobres ahorros, porque los grandes ejércitos y los grandes destinos
consumen mucho dinero, y con su hogar y su cosecha á veces,
porque las vicisitudes de la guerra se la llevaron á las puertas de su
casa, y se la destruyó una bomba por casualidad, ó se la arrasaron
de intento, porque estorbaba á la visual de una batería inmediata.
Además, como pecado ingénito y cruz peculiar, tiene el campesino
sus pasiones non sanctas, sus deudas de taberna, su tercio para
caer[4], su res enferma, su vecino envidioso, su vecina deslenguada,
su pleito muy á menudo; y, por último, la desdicha que no conocéis,
la plaga que no adivináis, viciosos de la ciudad; la pesadilla que
jamás os ha quitado el sueño, dormilones del gran mundo: tiene, en
una palabra, al secretario de su ayuntamiento.
Ésta es la gran cruz, digo, la cruz grande de los pueblos rurales, el
espantajo de su tranquilidad, el abismo de sus economías... el tirano
de la aldea.
Y aquí debo yo hacer una salvedad muy importante, tanto en honra
de los que desempeñan este respetable cargo dentro de las
atribuciones que le son propias, como en aclaración del verdadero
asunto de este esbozo.
En las grandes agrupaciones municipales, ó allí donde, junto á la
riqueza rústica, tienen alguna representación otras industrias
lucrativas, no hay que buscar al personaje aludido. El destino está
bien remunerado, ha habido muchos aspirantes, y ha podido
elegirse uno verdaderamente capaz, suficientemente ilustrado y
honrado á carta cabal. Este secretario, lejos de ser una calamidad
para el pueblo, es el mejor amigo del ignorante labriego, y el
procurador más desinteresado en todos sus apuros con el
municipio. Conozco muchos funcionarios así, y me honro con la
amistad de algunos de ellos.
Al tirano de mi cuento se le encuentra en esos pequeños municipios
que tanto abundan en las provincias del Norte y Occidente,
compuestos de aldeanos de pura raza, sin excepción quizá de una
levita temporera, apegados á sus yuntas y á sus tierras, como el
marisco á la roca, sin más ciencia, sin más literatura, sin más
necesidades intelectuales; en esos rinconcitos contribuyentes, de
los que jamás se acuerda el Gobierno si no es para sacarles sus
hijos y su dinero.
Mi personaje pertenece, en suma, al grupo de secretarios de
ayuntamientos de los lugares, que son (al decir de Fernán
Caballero) los más malos, los más venales, los más tiranos y los
más opresores de los hombres[5].
La plaza está pobremente remunerada, y tuvo pocos golosos que la
pretendieran. Sólo un indígena puede con ella, y un indígena la
explota.
¿Cómo la consiguió? No es fácil decirlo, porque no se sigue en esto
una tramitación determinada. Era el tal menos apegado que sus
convecinos á los trabajos agrícolas, díscolo además y turbulento; no
tenía mala letra y escribía con soltura; sabía en aritmética algo más
que las cuatro reglas, y sustituía al maestro de escuela en
ausencias y enfermedades; pintaba en el aire unas cuentas
municipales; escamoteaba como un prestidigitador la riqueza
imponible á las barbas de la misma administración de Hacienda...
quizá sacó alguna vez al ayuntamiento de alguna maraña peligrosa,
y libró con ello de un grillete á los inocentes concejales... ¡qué sé yo!
Ello es lo cierto que de la noche á la mañana se hallaron sus
convecinos amarrados á su omnipotencia, como pollino al árbol de
la noria. Y no borro la comparación, porque como á pollinos entre
varas los trata el tiranuelo.
El cual no tiene otras rentas ostensibles que los tres mil escasos
reales que vale el destino; y no obstante, traga más vino que una
cuba; cada sábado va de caracolada y cada lunes de callos con
arroz: el resto de la semana, ferias y mercados, para cuyos viajes
tiene un tordillo de buen andar; viste bien y tiene moza, amén de la
familia, numerosa, eso sí, pero rollicita y bien trajeada. No se le
conocen deudas.
II
Una administración municipal no se hace odiosa á un aldeano por el
solo delito de ser algo más cara que otras que la antecedieron:
suspira, murmura, pero no pierde el sueño porque le pidan el
recargo, y el recargo del recargo, y el tanto por ciento más sobre
todos estos recargos, y dos del anticipo, y tres del empréstito, y
cinco de consumos, y tanto del puerto, y cuánto de los pastores, y
esto para el médico, y lo otro para el señor cura. Todas éstas y otras
exacciones llevan apariencia legal: el aldeano cuenta siempre con
ellas ó con otras parecidas; y aunque alguien más sagaz pudiera,
con mucha frecuencia, hallar no poco que tachar, así en la calidad
como en la cantidad de lo exigido, él lo paga religiosamente y no se
escandaliza, porque no le extrañan los motivos.
Pero es el caso que, después de descansar pagando, como, en
señal de su ingénita honradez, dice el pobre hombre, logra éste, á
fuerza de privaciones, esconder un roñoso ochavo en el pico del
arca. Aquel ochavo es, con otros que irá juntando poco á poco, una
chaqueta nueva para él, ó una saya para su hija, ó el puchero limpio
del primero de la familia que caiga en cama, ó el socorro para el
chico si la suerte se le lleva al servicio de las armas, ó el calor del
invierno, ó el pan de la primavera. Robarle aquel ochavo es robarle
la paz, el sueño, el mayor pedazo de su alma.
Pues bien: este ochavo es, precisamente, el ochavo del secretario.
Cómo le huele, no siempre se sabe, ni nos importa. Cómo le saca,
es lo que iremos viendo poco á poco.
Al efecto, extendamos más el lienzo y bosquejemos algunos
accesorios esenciales á la figura principal.
La corporación municipal, como que en el pueblo no hay otra cosa,
se compone de media docena de toscos, sencillos é ignorantes
labriegos, para quienes es una carga insoportable la obligación de
asistir á las sesiones. Generalmente, estos concejales ignoran por
qué y para qué lo son; cuáles son sus atribuciones y hasta dónde
alcanzan. El secretario preside, el secretario habla, el secretario
resuelve, el secretario lo hace todo. El alcalde y los concejales
firman como autómatas, y no pocas veces temblando, como soldado
novel que corre á la brecha en pos de su jefe, y teme que aquel
esfuerzo de disciplina le cueste la vida. Porque es de advertir que
estos pobres hombres, recelosos por naturaleza, y que tantas cosas
ignoran, no desconocen que están amarrados como bestias á la
voluntad del secretario.
El juez de paz, ó municipal, es otro campesino de la misma madera
que los concejales: deletrea mal el catecismo, apenas sabe firmar, y
así entiende de códigos y de interpretar leyes, como de capar
cigarras. Mal sentado en el tosco banco de la justicia, sabe decir
tartamudeando:
—Hable Juan, ó conteste Pedro.—Y Juan y Pedro hablan y riñen, y
aun quizá se cascan las liendres. Y nada más. Pero el juez tiene á
su lado un secretario, y este secretario habla, discurre y sentencia
por el juez, que no da señales de vida sino para firmar la sentencia.
El tal secretario es el mismo del ayuntamiento, porque el juzgado no
produce bastante para permitirse el lujo de uno especial.
Y he aquí cómo viene á tener en sus manos la administración
municipal y la de justicia, libre de toda responsabilidad.
Pero todavía tiene más.
El solemnizar un contrato de venta con un documento público, trae,
según él, el compromiso y los derechos del registro; el registro una
declaración oficial de la finca, y esta declaración la contribución
subsiguiente. Es preferible un documento privado á lo más en un
pliego del sello 9º extendido ante él, que, sin rúbricas ni garabatos,
da tanta fe como el más guapo, y á mitad de precio que el
escribano.
Y así se hace.
Por un procedimiento análogo recibe la última voluntad de sus
convecinos in artículo mortis.
Se ve, pues, que también es depositario de la fe pública.
Es dueño del monte, porque el guarda es obra suya; y lo es
también, en cierto modo, del médico, del maestro y hasta del
párroco, por razones que iremos viendo.
Amén de otros recursos, que el lector deducirá fácilmente, tiene uno
más, que puede considerarse como el mejor filón de su mina: un
apoderado universal del ayuntamiento en la capital de la provincia.
Este hombre es, por lo común, un bribón de siete suelas, capaz de
pegársela al lucero del alba, concursado veinte veces y procesado
criminalmente otras tantas.
Por último, tiene guardadas las espaldas por un señorón, que nunca
falta en la ciudad, de ésos que en todo ven por disculpa la razón de
Estado, y que á todo trance le ampara y sostiene, aunque le salten á
las barbas rociadas del fango que no ha logrado tapar con su
influencia omnipotente.
III
Conocidos ya sus principales instrumentos, hemos de ver ahora
cómo maneja algunos de ellos; y no todos, porque fuera ofender la
perspicacia del lector irle enumerando uno á uno cuantos recursos
tiene un secretario de esta calaña para hacer un buen agosto en el
campo de lo que pudiéramos llamar trampas corrientes del oficio,
después de haber dicho que el ayuntamiento que le paga es sordo,
mudo y ciego, y que el pobre pueblo está amarrado á sus antojos
como borrico á la noria.
Fijémonos, por ejemplo, en la época de quintas, que es, de todas las
del año, la más socorrida para el secretario.
Por de pronto, si éste tiene un hijo sorteado, le libra á todo trance,
aunque sea más sano y robusto que una encina, le haya tocado el
número 1.° y no esté comprendido en ninguna de las exenciones
que marca el cuadro. En último caso, se forja un expediente
declarándole hijo ó nieto único de padre ó abuelo sexagenario y
pobre, aunque tenga otros hermanos, y el abuelo más nietos, y el
padre no llegue á los cuarenta, y el padre y el abuelo vivan de sus
rentas como unos caballeros.
Y es de notar que todo esto lo saben los infelices sacrificados; pero
se les fascina con un fárrago de palabrotas estampadas en un papel
sellado, á cuyo pie, para mayor escarnio, se les hace poner sus
firmas, cerrando de este modo todo pretexto á ulteriores
reclamaciones contra semejante felonía. Para conseguir tal
resultado, basta, generalmente, el miedo que inspira el tiranuelo á
los sencillos aldeanos; pero si éstos se resisten, se les hace creer
que hay el proyecto de presentar ante el Consejo provincial á todos
los mozos sorteados exentos del servicio, por medio de expedientes
arreglados por el secretario, á condición de que todos los
interesados se presten á formar á su gusto el de su hijo.
Lo que después de servido hace el pícaro con los incautos que le
ayudaron, no lo saben éstos hasta que en la capital se verifica la
declaración de soldados, y se examinan los fárragos,
intencionalmente incomprensibles, que, como áncoras de salvación
de sus hijos, llevaban los pobres hombres guardados
cuidadosamente en el bolsillo más hondo de sus burdos
chaquetones.
Pedro y Juan son dos mozos que han jugado la suerte juntos. Pedro
fué declarado libre en el ayuntamiento, y Juan, soldado; por lo cual
Juan protestó á Pedro. Pero el secretario, que es hombre previsor y
sabe que ni el padre de Juan ni el de Pedro dejan de apurar los
recursos que estén á sus alcances por un puñado de duros, pues
los tienen para tales casos, si no al pico del arca, en una res ó en
unas tierras, echándosela de magnánimo y compasivo, le dice á
Juan:
—Creo que puedes ganar este negocio si sabes trabajarle en la
capital. No seas tonto: sacrifica una onza, y yo te diré quién te ha de
sacar triunfante.
El inocente se deja seducir, y poco después recibe una cartita de
recomendación, que le da el seductor para cierto caballero de la
ciudad.
—Entrégasela mañana mismo—le dice,—porque me consta que
Pedro piensa ver también al mismo sujeto.
Luego se avista con Pedro, le hace las mismas reflexiones que á
Juan, y le añade:
—Sé que Juan va mañana á ver á don Fulano; pero sé también que
no le podrá servir, porque es negocio perdido. Aguántate sin
apurarte hasta el día de la entrega, y entonces te recomendaré yo á
cierta persona que en un momento arregla los imposibles.
Entre tanto, presenta Juan la carta al caballero de la ciudad, que no
es otro que el apoderado de quien ya se hizo mención. Después de
oir al mozo y de leer la credencial, se hace el pensativo, frunce las
cejas, ráscase la barbilla, y dice, por último:
—Esto es muy grave... y muy caro. Cuando es cuestión de talla ó de
exenciones físicas, con un par de duros para el tallador, ó media
onza para el médico, estamos al cabo de la calle; pero estos
señores del Consejo pican muy alto, amigo.
—Ya lo veo—observa tímidamente el mozo, ó su padre, ó quien lo
represente;—pero quiere decirse que... vamos al decir, en el
conceuto de que la cosa marche, probes semos, pero por una
onza... ú dos...
Y el infeliz las hace sonar en la faltriquera para que no se dude de
su palabra.
El agente oye el sonido como el tigre huele la presa, y se hace el
desentendido; y después de meditar un rato, ó de fingir que medita,
despide al recomendado citándole para dentro de una hora, tiempo
que dice necesitar para tantear el terreno.
Cuando se vuelven á reunir, el agente está muy sofocado. Ha reñido
con unos, ha tenido que empeñar grandes luchas con otros, y se ha
visto muy mal para convencerlos á todos. El negocio es ya cuestión
de dos onzas; pero á condición (y ésta la obtuvo el agente por un

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Chapter 1 Reading Comprehension

Chapter 2 Vocabulary and General Knowledge

Chapter 4 Basic Math Skills

Chapter 7 Anatomy and Physiology

Congratulations! You’ve taken a big step toward success on the HESI

—The Editors of McGraw Hill

The following questions refer to topics covered throughout this book.

1. Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the passage?

2. Choose the best summary of the passage.

3. Which of the following is a conclusion that a reader can draw

4. Which word names a small, hair-like projection?

6. Which of the following is spelled correctly?

7. Select the sentence that is grammatically correct.

8. What percent of 60 is 36?

9. Multiply and express in lowest terms: 2¼ × 4½ =

11. Hemoglobin is an example of what kind of molecule?

12. In which phase of meiosis do chromosomes align and trade

14. What is the correct formula for silver sulfide?

16. Which part of the brain is critical to the ability to hear?

17. The patella is _____ to the femur.

18. Which muscle helps to lift the shoulder blade?

19. If a 32-kg bowling ball generates 224 kg⋅m/s units of

20. If a radioactive substance has a half-life of 4 years, what

Chapter 1: Reading Comprehension

3. (A) To draw a conclusion, the reader must take information from

Chapter 2: Vocabulary and General Knowledge

Chapter 4: Basic Math Skills

9. (C) Express the mixed numbers as improper fractions, and

Chapter 7: Anatomy and Physiology

1. Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the passage?

2. What is the meaning of the word diminished as used in the

3. Choose the best summary of the passage.

5. Which statement would not be inferred by the reader?

Obsession Plus Addiction

6. Identify the overall tone of the essay.

7. What is the meaning of the word abstain as used in the last

8. Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the passage?

9. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?

10. What is the main idea of the passage?

11. The term compelling, as used in the second paragraph, can

12. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?

13. Identify the overall tone of the essay.

14. Choose the best summary of the passage.

Eating Local Foods

15. The word retain, as used in the second paragraph, most

16. What is the author’s purpose in writing this essay?

17. Choose the best summary of the passage.

18. Which of the following statements is the author’s opinion?

19. Which of the following is a conclusion that a reader can draw

20. Identify the overall tone of the essay.

21. What is the meaning of the word tolerance as used in the

25. Identify the overall tone of the essay.

26. Which of the following is not listed as a detail in the

27. The word suffice, as used in paragraph 3, most closely

28. Which statement would not be inferred by the reader?

29. Which of the following is a conclusion that a reader can draw