HESI A2 Vocabulary Practice Test

25 practice questions

Choose an answer, then check it under Show answer.

1. Question 1 of 25Medium

   Without prompt medical intervention, the patient's pulmonary condition is likely to deteriorate. What does "deteriorate" mean as used in this sentence?

   1. AA. Stabilize
   2. BB. Worsen
   3. CC. Fluctuate
   4. DD. Recur
   Show answer to question 1

   Answer: B. Worsen

   Deteriorate means to become progressively worse or decline in health and function. Fluctuate means to rise and fall unpredictably, which does not capture the clear downward trend implied by deteriorate.

2. Question 2 of 25Medium

   The discharge instructions were ambiguous, so the nurse called the physician to clarify whether the dosage should be taken once or twice daily. What does 'ambiguous' mean?

   1. AA. missing important information entirely
   2. BB. capable of being understood in more than one way
   3. CC. translated incorrectly from another language
   4. DD. written using excessive medical jargon
   Show answer to question 2

   Answer: B. capable of being understood in more than one way

   Ambiguous means capable of being understood in more than one way. The instructions could be read as once or twice daily, so the nurse called the physician to clarify.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AAmbiguous wording is present but unclear; information that is missing entirely would be called incomplete.
   • CNothing suggests a translation; ambiguity comes from wording that allows two readings.
   • DHeavy jargon makes text hard to understand, but ambiguous means having more than one possible meaning.

3. Question 3 of 25Medium

   The doctor noted that the patient's symptoms were 'transient.' Which word is an ANTONYM of 'transient'?

   1. AA. brief
   2. BB. fleeting
   3. CC. momentary
   4. DD. permanent
   Show answer to question 3

   Answer: D. permanent

   Transient means lasting only for a short time or being temporary. Permanent means lasting or intended to last indefinitely. The other options are synonyms of transient.

4. Question 4 of 25Medium

   Following the surgery, the patient's heart rate showed a marked fluctuation throughout the afternoon. In this context, 'fluctuation' refers to:

   1. AA. a steady increase in rhythm
   2. BB. irregular rising and falling
   3. CC. a complete cessation of activity
   4. DD. a permanent loss of function
   Show answer to question 4

   Answer: B. irregular rising and falling

   Fluctuation refers to an irregular rising and falling of a value or level. It implies movement back and forth rather than a steady or constant state.

5. Question 5 of 25Easy

   The laboratory technician prepared a culture from the throat swab to identify the pathogen causing the infection. What does the word 'culture' mean in this context?

   1. AA. A synthetic solution used to dilute medications
   2. BB. A specialized technique for sanitizing instruments
   3. CC. The customs and beliefs of a particular group
   4. DD. A growing colony of microscopic organisms
   Show answer to question 5

   Answer: D. A growing colony of microscopic organisms

   In a biological or clinical laboratory context, 'culture' refers to the propagation or growth of microorganisms in a nutrient-rich medium. While the term commonly refers to the shared customs, arts, and values of a society, that social definition does not apply to laboratory diagnostic procedures.

6. Question 6 of 25Easy

   The patient's condition remained stable throughout the night, showing no signs of deterioration. What does 'deterioration' mean?

   1. AA. A state of constant health
   2. BB. A process of worsening
   3. CC. A sudden improvement
   4. DD. A change in appearance
   Show answer to question 6

   Answer: B. A process of worsening

   Deterioration refers to the process of becoming progressively worse in quality or condition. A sudden improvement is the antonym of deterioration.

7. Question 7 of 25Medium

   A patient's medical record indicates that the condition is 'benign.' What does this term imply about the growth?

   1. AA. It is life-threatening
   2. BB. It is spreading to other organs
   3. CC. It is rapidly growing
   4. DD. It is non-cancerous
   Show answer to question 7

   Answer: D. It is non-cancerous

   A benign growth is non-cancerous and typically does not spread to surrounding tissues. In contrast, a malignant growth is cancerous and has the potential to invade other parts of the body.

8. Question 8 of 25Medium

   A physician documented edema in the patient's infraclavicular fossa. Based on the prefix 'infra-', where is this structure located?

   1. AA. Above the clavicle
   2. BB. Behind the clavicle
   3. CC. Below the clavicle
   4. DD. Between the clavicles
   Show answer to question 8

   Answer: C. Below the clavicle

   The prefix 'infra-' means below or beneath, indicating that infraclavicular refers to the area beneath the clavicle. The opposite prefix meaning above is 'supra-', which makes 'above the clavicle' incorrect.

9. Question 9 of 25Medium

   The medical report stated that the patient's pain was 'localized.' What does 'localized' mean?

   1. AA. Moving from one part to another
   2. BB. Restricted to one specific area
   3. CC. Difficult to identify or find
   4. DD. Spreading throughout the body
   Show answer to question 9

   Answer: B. Restricted to one specific area

   Localized means that a condition or sensation is confined to a particular, specific part of the body. This is the opposite of systemic or generalized symptoms that affect the entire body.

10. Question 10 of 25Easy

    The physician warned the patient about potential adverse reactions before initiating the new drug therapy. What is the meaning of the word "adverse"?

    1. AA. Reversible
    2. BB. Temporary
    3. CC. Beneficial
    4. DD. Harmful
    Show answer to question 10

    Answer: D. Harmful

    The term "adverse" refers to something that is harmful, unfavorable, or detrimental. While some side effects may be "temporary" or "reversible," adverse specifically denotes an undesirable or harmful outcome. "Beneficial" is the opposite of adverse.

11. Question 11 of 25Easy

    The student's **diligent** study habits led to high exam scores. What does 'diligent' mean?

    1. AA. careful and persistent
    2. BB. careless
    3. CC. lazy
    4. DD. sporadic
    Show answer to question 11

    Answer: A. careful and persistent

    'Diligent' means showing careful and persistent effort or hard work; it implies thoroughness and dedication.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • B'Careless' means not giving sufficient attention, opposite of diligent.
    • C'Lazy' is the opposite, indicating unwillingness to work.
    • D'Sporadic' means occurring irregularly, not consistently diligent.

12. Question 12 of 25Hard

    The physician explained that the patient's chronic kidney disease had an insidious onset, causing substantial organ injury before any noticeable symptoms appeared. What does 'insidious' mean?

    1. AA. Gradual and subtle yet causing harm
    2. BB. Transmissible through close personal contact
    3. CC. Sudden and accompanied by intense pain
    4. DD. Congenital and identifiable at birth
    Show answer to question 12

    Answer: A. Gradual and subtle yet causing harm

    In medical contexts, 'insidious' describes a disease or condition that develops gradually and stealthily without obvious early symptoms, but with harmful or grave effects. A condition characterized as sudden and accompanied by intense pain would be described as acute rather than insidious.

13. Question 13 of 25Easy

    A patient is scheduled for a procedure to remove a small, benign growth from their skin. Which medical suffix describes the surgical removal of this growth?

    1. AA. -ostomy
    2. BB. -oscopy
    3. CC. -otomy
    4. DD. -ectomy
    Show answer to question 13

    Answer: D. -ectomy

    The suffix -ectomy refers to the surgical removal of an organ or tissue. In contrast, -otomy refers to an incision into an organ, and -ostomy refers to the creation of an opening.

14. Question 14 of 25Easy

    The clinical trial was designed to measure the efficacy of the oral medication. What does "efficacy" mean?

    1. AA. The capacity to produce a desired effect
    2. BB. The likelihood of causing allergic reactions
    3. CC. The total cost associated with production
    4. DD. The rate of absorption in the bloodstream
    Show answer to question 14

    Answer: A. The capacity to produce a desired effect

    Efficacy describes the power or capacity to produce an intended therapeutic outcome. Rate of absorption refers to bioavailability or drug uptake rather than whether the medication effectively achieves its desired goal.

15. Question 15 of 25Medium

    Following the administration of the sedative, the patient became noticeably lethargic during the neurological assessment. What does the word 'lethargic' most nearly mean?

    1. AA. Cooperative and relaxed
    2. BB. Anxious and restless
    3. CC. Sluggish and indifferent
    4. DD. Confused and disoriented
    Show answer to question 15

    Answer: C. Sluggish and indifferent

    'Lethargic' describes a state of abnormal drowsiness, sluggishness, or reduced alertness and responsiveness. The choice 'confused and disoriented' describes cognitive disorientation or delirium rather than a reduced level of arousal.

16. Question 16 of 25Hard

    The pulmonologist warned that strenuous physical activity could exacerbate the patient's airway inflammation. What is the meaning of the word "exacerbate"?

    1. AA. To resolve or eliminate completely
    2. BB. To provoke annoyance or anger
    3. CC. To worsen or increase the severity of
    4. DD. To mask or conceal clinical signs
    Show answer to question 16

    Answer: C. To worsen or increase the severity of

    The word "exacerbate" means to aggravate, worsen, or intensify an existing disease, symptom, or problem. It is commonly confused with "exasperate," which means to irritate, frustrate, or annoy a person intensely.

17. Question 17 of 25Medium

    A patient is diagnosed with nephropathy. What does the root 'nephr-' refer to in this medical term?

    1. AA. Nerve
    2. BB. Lungs
    3. CC. Liver
    4. DD. Kidney
    Show answer to question 17

    Answer: D. Kidney

    The root nephr- refers to the kidney. A condition involving the liver would use the root hepat-.

18. Question 18 of 25Easy

    The surgeon's instructions for the procedure were ________, leaving no room for confusion or error during the operation.

    1. AA. subjective
    2. BB. ambiguous
    3. CC. unambiguous
    4. DD. tentative
    Show answer to question 18

    Answer: C. unambiguous

    Unambiguous means clear and leaving no doubt, which fits the context of avoiding error. Ambiguous would imply the instructions were unclear and could be misinterpreted.

19. Question 19 of 25Medium

    A physician notes that a patient has 'hematemesis'. What does the root 'hemat-' refer to?

    1. AA. mucus
    2. BB. saliva
    3. CC. blood
    4. DD. bile
    Show answer to question 19

    Answer: C. blood

    The root 'hemat-' refers to blood, and 'emesis' refers to vomiting. 'Chole-' is a root associated with bile.

20. Question 20 of 25Hard

    The primary goal of hospice care is not curative intervention, but rather palliative support aimed at maximizing comfort and quality of life. What does "palliative" mean in this context?

    1. AA. Relieving pain without curing
    2. BB. Hastening a natural decline
    3. CC. Restoring baseline physical function
    4. DD. Reversing chronic degeneration
    Show answer to question 20

    Answer: A. Relieving pain without curing

    Palliative refers to medical or supportive care designed to soothe, ease pain, and relieve symptoms of an illness without aiming to provide a cure. Interventions that aim to reverse degeneration or restore baseline function are curative or rehabilitative, not palliative.

21. Question 21 of 25Medium

    The laboratory results showed an increase in certain enzymes during the acute phase of the illness. What does the word 'acute' most nearly mean in this temporal context?

    1. AA. A recurring and cyclical pattern
    2. BB. A long-term, gradual onset
    3. CC. A sudden and severe onset
    4. DD. A mild and stable condition
    Show answer to question 21

    Answer: C. A sudden and severe onset

    In a clinical context, acute refers to a condition that has a sudden onset or occurs over a short period. The term chronic is used to describe a condition that is long-lasting or persistent.

22. Question 22 of 25Hard

    The physician noted that the patient was intermittently experiencing localized pain. What does 'intermittently' mean?

    1. AA. periodically
    2. BB. constantly
    3. CC. severely
    4. DD. vaguely
    Show answer to question 22

    Answer: A. periodically

    Intermittently means occurring at intervals or stopping and starting rather than being constant. Constant pain would be continuous, whereas intermittent pain comes and goes.

23. Question 23 of 25Hard

    The patient's reaction to the medication was disparate from the reaction observed in the clinical trial participants. What does 'disparate' suggest about the reactions?

    1. AA. The reactions were fundamentally different.
    2. BB. The reactions were occurring simultaneously.
    3. CC. The reactions were predictable and expected.
    4. DD. The reactions were nearly identical.
    Show answer to question 23

    Answer: A. The reactions were fundamentally different.

    Disparate describes things that are essentially different in kind or not allowing for easy comparison. It indicates a significant divergence between the patient's experience and the trial data.

24. Question 24 of 25Hard

    A patient's laboratory results indicate a state of oliguria. What does the prefix 'oligo-' indicate about the patient's urine output?

    1. AA. Frequent
    2. BB. Scanty or small
    3. CC. Painful
    4. DD. Large amounts
    Show answer to question 24

    Answer: B. Scanty or small

    The prefix oligo- means scanty, few, or small, indicating a low volume of urine. The prefix poly- would indicate excessive or large amounts of urine.

25. Question 25 of 25Hard

    Increased stress levels can precipitate a hypertensive crisis in certain patients. What does 'precipitate' mean in this context?

    1. AA. To alleviate or reduce
    2. BB. To cause to happen suddenly
    3. CC. To monitor closely
    4. DD. To prevent or delay
    Show answer to question 25

    Answer: B. To cause to happen suddenly

    In a medical context, to precipitate an event means to cause it to occur, often suddenly or prematurely. It is the opposite of preventing or delaying the event.

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