which sentence correctly uses a colon

HESI A2

Vocabulary HESI A2 Practice Test

1. Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

A. She had one goal: to win the race.
B. He needs milk, eggs, and bread.
C. The meeting is at 3 PM.
D. She bought milk, eggs, bread.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'She had one goal: to win the race.' This sentence uses a colon to introduce the purpose or explanation that follows. It is a grammatically correct use of a colon. Choice B is incorrect as the colon is not needed after 'needs'; a list of items follows, which does not require a colon. Choice C is a simple statement of time and does not require a colon. Choice D is also incorrect since a colon is not suitable after 'bought'; the items bought are listed without the need for a colon.

2. Concise is best defined as being ___________.

A. exact
B. brief
C. accurate
D. assembled

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Concise is best defined as being brief or to the point, expressing much in few words. While accuracy and exactness are important qualities, concise specifically refers to being brief or succinct in communication. Choice A ('exact') is not the best definition, as being precise in language does not necessarily mean being concise. Choice C ('accurate') is also not the best definition, as accuracy relates more to correctness than brevity. Choice D ('assembled') is unrelated to the definition of concise.

3. Choose the meaning of the word 'swathe' in the following sentence: Please swathe the baby and take her to the nursery.

A. Nurse
B. Cleanse
C. Change
D. Wrap

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In this context, the word 'swathe' means to wrap something, usually in cloth or bandages. So the correct meaning of 'swathe' in the sentence is to wrap the baby in cloth. Choice A ('Nurse') is incorrect as it does not relate to the action of wrapping. Choice B ('Cleanse') and Choice C ('Change') are also incorrect as they do not capture the intended meaning of 'swathe' in the sentence.

4. If illegal operators are posing as licensed pharmacists, what are they doing?

A. Modeling
B. Inquiring
C. Positioning
D. Pretending

Correct answer: D

Rationale: If illegal operators are posing as licensed pharmacists, they are pretending to be licensed pharmacists when they are not. This deceptive behavior is misleading and potentially dangerous for consumers seeking legitimate medical advice and products. Choice A, modeling, implies imitating behavior or appearance, which is not the case here. Choice B, inquiring, suggests seeking information or asking questions, which is not the correct behavior in this context. Choice C, positioning, refers to arranging or placing things in a particular way, which is not relevant to the situation described in the question.

5. What does the word Banal mean?

A. Interesting
B. Ordinary
C. Boring
D. Creative

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Ordinary.' Banal refers to something that is common, unoriginal, or lacking in originality. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because banal does not mean interesting, boring, or creative; it specifically conveys the idea of being mundane or lacking in freshness.