Microsoft word - reading.doc

Sample Questions – Reading Prescreening Assessment

Before the course begins, your reading and/or math skills will be assessed. The purpose
of this assessment is to be sure you have the basic skills required to perform successfully
in the course. These sample questions will show you what to expect in the actual
prescreening assessment. It is not important for you to know the content of these
questions before you take the course. We don’t expect you to know about coronary heart
disease, for example, before the course. We do want to know how well you can get
information out of written materials – your reading skill.
You will find a range of reading tasks here. There are prose texts, labels, tables and lists
to read. This sample includes items that are a little more difficult than what is on the
actual prescreening assessment. If you are comfortable with this sample, you should feel
very comfortable with the actual assessment. You’ll find answers at the end.
Directions: Refer to the reading on coronary heart disease to answer the next two questions. Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease is the end result of the accumulation of plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the muscle of the heart with oxygen and nutrients. The symptoms and signs of coronary heart disease are noted in the advanced state of disease. But most individuals with coronary heart disease show no evidence of disease for decades. The disease progresses unnoticed until the first onset of symptoms, often a "sudden" heart attack, finally arise. After decades of progression, some of these plaques may rupture and start limiting blood flow to the heart muscle. The disease is the most common cause of sudden death, and is also the most common reason for death of men and women over 20 years of age. According to present trends in the United States, half of healthy 40-year-old males will develop coronary heart disease in the future, and one in three healthy 40-year-old women. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Northern Ireland is the country with the most occurrences of coronary heart disease. 1. How long can coronary heart disease go unnoticed? a) Until someone is 40 years old b) Until plaque accumulates in arteries c) Until oxygen and nutrients are supplied to the heart d) For 10, 20 or 30 years 2. Which statement about coronary heart disease is true? a) Coronary heart disease can progress suddenly. b) Coronary heart disease is more common among women than men. c) Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death. d) Coronary heart disease restricts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Directions: Read the pesticide label to answer the next questions. Bug-Out Ant & Roach Killer
Kills insects on contact. Keeps on killing with residual action even after it dries. Penetrating vapor attacks bugs through cracks and crevices – kills them where they hide. Kills even resistant roaches. HOLD AS UPRIGHT AS POSSIBLE WHEN SPRAYING.DO NOT SPRAY UP INTO THE AIR. APPLY TO SURFACES ONLY. Point spray nozzle toward surface to be sprayed and press button firmly. Hold container about 12” from the surface being sprayed. Spray until surfaces are wet. Avoid excessive wetting of asphalt tile, rubber, Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. If swallowed, get immediate medical attention.- Note to Physician: Atragone is antidotal and should be administered only after symptoms appear. Avoid breathing spray mist. Do not apply to humans. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after use, and before eating or smoking. Do not smoke while using. Keep out of reach of children; do not allow children in treated areas until dry. Do not use in commercial food preparation areas or in edible products areas or in food processing plants. Provide adequate ventilation of area being treated. Do not spray more than 1 ½ minutes in an average room. Do not apply to pets or contaminate foodstuffs or feed, dishes or utensils. Remove birds and cover fishbowls when spraying. Do not allow pets on treated areas until dry. Do not spray on plants or 3. According to the label, where should this product be sprayed? 4. If a child swallows some of this substance, when should you get medical help? a) Immediately b) After symptoms appear c) After washing hands with soap and water d) After administering an antidote Directions: Read the medicine label below to answer the next question. swallow whole. You should avoid prolonged or excessive exposure to direct and/or artificial sunlight while taking this medication. Discard after 8/15/2007.
5. When should you throw away this medicine? a) When you chew it. b) After it has been in direct sunshine for a prolonged period. c) After August 15, 2007 d) Before August 15, 2007 Directions: Read the table about osteoarthritis medications to answer the next two questions. Drugs Used in Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Potential
Name of Drug
6. Which drug does not cause heart problems? a) Ibuprofen b) Naproxen c) Celecoxib d) Acetaminophen 7. Which drug has the fewest potential negative effects? a) Ibuprofen b) Naproxen c) Celecoxib d) Acetaminophen Directions: Use the telephone directory below to answer the next two questions. Telephone Directory Sutter Roseville Medical Center Sutter Roseville Medical Center
(916) 781-1000
Sutter Roseville Medical Center Foundation 8. What number would you call to make plans for paying a large bill from the hospital? 9. If you dialed (916) 781-1510, which office would you reach? b) Nutrition and Food Services c) Business Directions: Read the following text about Health Maintenance Organizations to answer the next questions. Health Maintenance Organizations
A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a type of Managed Care Organization (MCO) that provides a form of health insurance coverage. HMOs have contracts with hospitals, doctors, and other providers. Individuals who join an HMO receive health care services from the HMO’s contracted service providers. The care a patient receives is controlled by the HMO’s standard rules for treatment. Health care providers contract with an HMO in order to receive more patients. In return they usually agree to provide services at a discount. This arrangement allows the HMO to charge members a lower monthly premium, which is an advantage over insurance, provided that its members are willing to abide by the HMO’s restrictions in treatment. 10. Which of the following is a member of an HMO? c) Managed care organization d) Hospital 11. Why do health care providers contract with HMOs? a) To reduce monthly insurance premiums b) To follow the standard rules for treatment c) To give patients discounted services d) To receive more patients Directions: Use this excerpt of a glossary of medical terms to answer the next
questions.
Allergen: A substance that is foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people. For
example, pollen, dander, mold.
Allergic conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the whites of the eyes (the conjunctivae) with itching and redness
of the eyes and tearing, due to allergy.
Allergic contact dermatitis: A red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with a
substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign, such as poison ivy or poison oak.
Allergic rhinitis: A condition due to allergy that mimics a chronic cold. Post-nasal dripping of clear mucus
frequently causes a cough. Loss of smell is common and loss of taste occurs occasionally. Eye itching,
redness, and tearing frequently accompany the nasal symptoms.
Allergy : A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body’s system of defense
against foreign invaders. The allergic reaction is misguided in that these foreign substances are usually
harmless.
Anaphylactic shock: A widespread and very serious allergic reaction. Symptoms include dizziness, loss of
consciousness, labored breathing, swelling of the tongue and breathing tubes, blueness of the skin, low
blood pressure, heart failure, and death. Immediate emergency.
Aspirin: A good example of a trade name that entered into the language, Aspirin was once the Bayer
trademark for acetylsalicylic acid.
Asthma : A common disorder in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them
swell, narrowing the airways.
Atopic dermatitis : A skin disease characterized by areas of severe itching, redness, scaling, and loss of
the surface of the skin (excoriation). When the eruption ( rash ) has been present for a prolonged time,
chronic changes occur due to the constant scratching and rubbing known as lichenification (thickening of the
skin with accentuation of the skin lines to form a crisscross pattern).
Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as
parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).
12. What is allergic contact dermatitis? a) A red area on the skin caused by scratching b) A red itchy area where the skin has come into contact with an allergen c) Inflammation of the eye d) The thickening of the skin caused by constant scratching 13. What is it called when cold symptoms are caused by an allergic reaction? 14. What are pollen, dander and mold examples of? a) Allergens b) Bacteria c) Diseases d) Parasites Directions: Use information in the table to answer the next questions. Category Description
Treatment
destroyed with bones being visible in some cases 15. Which of the following occurs only with 2nd degree burns? a) Pain b) Restlessness c) Blisters d) No 16. In what condition should you get medical help? a) Burns causing blisters on the face b) Severe c) Fever and headache d) Red skin and restlessness 17. According to the chart, which of the following is true: a) Ointments should not be used on 1st degree burns. b) 3rd degree burn victims do not feel pain at the burned area. c) 2nd degree burns can result in significant fluid loss. d) Always get medical help treating 2nd degree burns.

Source: http://seco.glendale.edu/cse/forms/englishassessment.pdf