What this section covers: Vocabulary used in general English, Vocabulary used in health care.
10 free practice questions
Click an answer: you see at once whether it is right, with the explanation.
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Question 1The patient's ankles showed marked edema. Edema is
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Answer: B — swelling caused by excess fluid in the tissues.
Edema is swelling produced by fluid collecting in body tissues, often seen in the feet and ankles. Bruising and redness are different findings.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — Health care vocabulary
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Question 2The physician noted that the drug was contraindicated for the patient. This means the drug
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Answer: C — should not be given because it could be harmful to this patient.
A contraindication is a condition that makes a particular treatment inadvisable. Contraindicated therefore means the treatment should be avoided for that patient.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — Health care vocabulary
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Question 3The patient reported acute abdominal pain that began two hours ago. Acute means
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Answer: B — having a sudden onset and usually a short course.
Acute describes a condition that begins suddenly and is often severe but short-lived. A condition lasting for months is chronic.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — Health care vocabulary
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Question 4The patient complained of dyspnea after climbing the stairs. Dyspnea is
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Answer: C — difficult or labored breathing.
Dys- means difficult or painful and -pnea refers to breathing, so dyspnea is difficult breathing. Difficulty swallowing is dysphagia.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — Health care vocabulary
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Question 5The surgeon told the family that the prognosis was good. Prognosis means
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Answer: A — the expected course and outcome of a disease.
A prognosis is a forecast of how a condition is likely to progress. Identifying the disease itself is the diagnosis.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — Health care vocabulary
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Question 6For the procedure, the patient was placed in the supine position. Supine means
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Answer: D — lying on the back, face up.
Supine means lying on the back with the face upward. Lying face down is the prone position.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — Health care vocabulary
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Question 7Wearing gloves can mitigate the risk of spreading infection. Mitigate means
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Answer: A — to lessen or reduce.
To mitigate is to make something less severe. Gloves reduce, but do not always eliminate, the risk.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — General academic vocabulary
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Question 8The patient had a fluid volume deficit after several days of vomiting. Deficit means
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Answer: D — a shortage.
A deficit is a lack or shortfall. A fluid volume deficit means the body has less fluid than it needs.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — General academic vocabulary
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Question 9Ice packs can help alleviate swelling. Alleviate means
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Answer: B — relieve or lessen.
To alleviate is to make a problem less severe. Ice reduces swelling; it does not cause it.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — General academic vocabulary
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Question 10The prefix hyper-, as in hypertension, means
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Answer: C — above normal or excessive.
Hyper- means over or above normal, so hypertension is high blood pressure. Below normal is hypo-.
Checked against: HESI Admission Assessment Exam overview (Elsevier): English Language, Vocabulary and General Knowledge — Word parts
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