Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam Quiz: Modifiers And Parallel Structure
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Modifiers And Parallel StructureQuestion 1 of 20

The researcher found that getting regular exercise was more beneficial for mood than   a restrictive diet.

to follow
the following of
following
if you follow
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Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam Quiz

Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam Quiz: Modifiers And Parallel Structure

Practice Modifiers And Parallel Structure in Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Modifiers And Parallel Structure, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

The researcher found that getting regular exercise was more beneficial for mood than   a restrictive diet.

  1. to follow
  2. the following of
  3. following (correct answer)
  4. if you follow
Explanation: This question tests parallel structure in comparative sentences. When you're comparing two actions or activities using "more...than," both elements being compared must be in the same grammatical form. The sentence compares "getting regular exercise" (a gerund phrase) with another activity. Since "getting" is a gerund (an -ing verb form acting as a noun), the second part of the comparison must also use a gerund to maintain parallel structure. Choice C "following" creates this balance: "getting regular exercise was more beneficial...than following a restrictive diet." Both "getting" and "following" are gerunds, making the sentence grammatically parallel and smooth to read. Choice A "to follow" uses an infinitive form, which breaks the parallel structure with the gerund "getting." This mismatch creates an awkward, unbalanced sentence. Choice B "the following of" is unnecessarily wordy and creates an awkward noun phrase that doesn't flow naturally with the comparison. Choice D "if you follow" introduces a conditional clause with a different subject ("you"), which completely disrupts the parallel structure and changes the meaning of the comparison. When you encounter comparison questions on the HESI, look for parallel structure. The elements being compared should match in grammatical form—if one uses a gerund, the other should too; if one uses an infinitive, match it with another infinitive. This pattern appears frequently in academic writing assessments.

Question 2

The new treatment protocol is designed not only to reduce recovery time but also   patient comfort.

  1. for improving
  2. to improve (correct answer)
  3. improves
  4. the improvement of
Explanation: This question tests parallel structure in correlative conjunctions, specifically the "not only...but also" construction. When you encounter this pairing, both elements must be grammatically equivalent. The sentence uses "not only to reduce recovery time" — notice that "to reduce" is an infinitive phrase. For proper parallel structure, the "but also" clause must match this form exactly. Choice B) "to improve" provides the perfect parallel infinitive structure: "not only to reduce...but also to improve." This creates grammatical balance and clarity. Choice A) "for improving" breaks parallelism by using a preposition plus gerund instead of an infinitive. While "for improving" might sound acceptable in isolation, it doesn't match the infinitive structure established by "to reduce." Choice C) "improves" is a finite verb that creates an incomplete clause — you'd need a subject to make this work grammatically. Choice D) "the improvement of" uses a noun phrase rather than an infinitive, again breaking the required parallel structure. Remember that correlative conjunctions (not only...but also, either...or, neither...nor, both...and) always demand parallel structure. Whatever grammatical form follows the first conjunction must be mirrored after the second. On the HESI, watch for these constructions and quickly identify the grammatical pattern in the first part of the sentence — then look for the answer choice that maintains that exact same pattern in the second part.

Question 3

The instructor explained that documenting a patient's refusal of care is as critical as   the care itself.

  1. to administer
  2. the administration of
  3. when you administer
  4. administering (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in English grammar, which is essential for clear professional documentation in healthcare settings. The sentence compares two equally important actions: documenting refusal of care and providing the care itself. When making comparisons with "as...as," both elements must be in the same grammatical form to create parallel structure. Since "documenting" is a gerund (verb acting as a noun), the second element must also be a gerund. Answer choice D) "administering" is correct because it matches the gerund form of "documenting." The complete sentence reads: "documenting a patient's refusal of care is as critical as administering the care itself." Both actions are presented as equally important nursing responsibilities using the same grammatical structure. Answer choice A) "to administer" is incorrect because it's an infinitive, which doesn't match the gerund "documenting." Answer choice B) "the administration of" creates an awkward, wordy construction that breaks the parallel flow and sounds unnatural. Answer choice C) "when you administer" is a dependent clause that completely disrupts the comparison structure and changes the meaning from comparing two actions to comparing an action with a time condition. Remember that parallel structure questions frequently appear on the HESI exam because clear, consistent writing is crucial in healthcare documentation. When you see comparison words like "as...as," "both...and," or "not only...but also," immediately check that both elements use the same grammatical form—this will guide you to the correct answer quickly.

Question 4

The physical therapist instructed the patient to stretch the hamstring, strengthen the quadriceps, and   after each workout.

  1. ice should be applied
  2. applying ice
  3. the application of ice
  4. apply ice (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in a series of commands or instructions. When you see a sentence listing multiple actions that someone should perform, each item in the series must follow the same grammatical pattern. The sentence structure shows the physical therapist giving three instructions: "stretch the hamstring, strengthen the quadriceps, and  ." The first two items use the base form of verbs (stretch, strengthen), so the third item must also use a base verb form to maintain parallel structure. Answer choice D) "apply ice" follows this pattern perfectly, creating the parallel series: stretch, strengthen, and apply. Let's examine why the other options fail. Choice A) "ice should be applied" breaks the pattern by shifting to a passive voice construction with a modal verb, making it grammatically inconsistent with the active voice commands that precede it. Choice B) "applying ice" uses a gerund (verb + -ing), which doesn't match the base verb forms used earlier in the series. Choice C) "the application of ice" converts the action into a noun phrase, again breaking the established pattern of active verbs. For HESI exam success, remember that parallel structure questions often appear in healthcare contexts involving patient instructions or medical procedures. When you see a series connected by "and," check that each element follows the same grammatical form—whether verbs, nouns, or phrases. This pattern recognition will help you quickly identify the correct answer in similar questions.

Question 5

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct and most clearly written?

  1. An organ transplant, a medical student, hopes to one day perform.
  2. Hoping to one day perform an organ transplant as a medical student.
  3. A medical student hopes to one day perform an organ transplant. (correct answer)
  4. To one day perform an organ transplant is the hope of a medical student.
Explanation: Grammar questions on the HESI often test your ability to identify complete sentences and proper sentence structure. When evaluating sentence options, look for clear subjects and verbs that work together logically. Option C presents a straightforward, grammatically correct sentence with a clear subject ("A medical student") and predicate ("hopes to one day perform an organ transplant"). The sentence follows standard English word order and expresses a complete thought without ambiguity. Option A contains a misplaced modifier that creates confusion. The phrase "a medical student" is awkwardly inserted between "An organ transplant" and the verb phrase, making it unclear who is doing the hoping. The sentence structure suggests the organ transplant itself is the medical student, which is nonsensical. Option B is a sentence fragment—it lacks a main verb and complete subject. "Hoping" is a participle, not a main verb, so this construction leaves the reader waiting for the rest of the sentence. It tells us someone is hoping but never clearly states who. Option D, while technically grammatical, uses unnecessarily complex structure with the infinitive phrase "To one day perform an organ transplant" as the subject. This creates awkward, wordy phrasing that obscures the simple meaning. For HESI grammar questions, choose the option that is both grammatically correct and uses the clearest, most direct phrasing. Avoid fragments, misplaced modifiers, and unnecessarily complex constructions. When in doubt, look for the sentence with the most straightforward subject-verb relationship.

Question 6

Identify the sentence that contains a dangling modifier that needs correction.

  1. After completing the medication administration training, the supervisor praised the new nurses for their attention to detail.
  2. Walking through the ICU, the monitors displayed various patient vital signs that caught the nurse's attention immediately. (correct answer)
  3. Having finished their clinical rotations, the nursing students felt confident about their upcoming board examinations.
  4. While reviewing patient charts, the nurse discovered several inconsistencies that required immediate physician consultation.
Explanation: Choice B contains a dangling modifier because 'Walking through the ICU' appears to modify 'the monitors,' which is illogical—monitors cannot walk. The modifier should clearly refer to the nurse. Choices A, C, and D all have modifiers that correctly refer to their intended subjects (supervisor, nursing students, and nurse, respectively).

Question 7

Which revision most effectively addresses both the dangling modifier and parallel structure errors in: 'Having reviewed the lab results, dosage adjustments were made, medications were discontinued, and consulting with specialists'?

  1. Having reviewed the lab results, the physician made dosage adjustments, discontinued medications, and consulted with specialists appropriately. (correct answer)
  2. After reviewing the lab results, dosage adjustments were made, medications were discontinued, and specialists were consulted by medical staff.
  3. Having reviewed the lab results, dosage adjustments, medication discontinuation, and specialist consultation occurred as needed.
  4. Lab results having been reviewed, the physician adjusted dosages, discontinued medications, and was consulting with specialists when necessary.
Explanation: Choice A corrects the dangling modifier by providing a clear subject (the physician) and maintains parallel structure with three past tense verbs (made, discontinued, consulted). Choice B fixes the parallel structure but doesn't address the dangling modifier. Choice C maintains the dangling modifier and uses awkward noun phrases. Choice D fixes the dangling modifier but breaks parallelism with 'was consulting.'

Question 8

Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure and proper modifier placement?

  1. The nursing student reviewed case studies, practiced clinical skills, and was attending lectures regularly to prepare for the HESI exam.
  2. To prepare for the HESI exam, the nursing student reviewed case studies, practiced clinical skills, and attended lectures regularly. (correct answer)
  3. The nursing student, to prepare for the HESI exam, reviewed case studies, was practicing clinical skills, and attended lectures regularly.
  4. Reviewing case studies, practicing clinical skills, and to attend lectures regularly helped the nursing student prepare for the HESI exam.
Explanation: Choice B maintains parallel structure with three past tense verbs (reviewed, practiced, attended) and correctly places the prepositional phrase 'To prepare for the HESI exam' at the beginning. Choice A breaks parallelism with 'was attending' (past continuous) among past tense verbs. Choice C disrupts flow with the misplaced modifier and mixes past tense with past continuous. Choice D breaks parallelism by mixing gerunds (reviewing, practicing) with an infinitive (to attend).

Question 9

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

  1. Having administered the pain medication, the patient's chart was updated by the nurse.
  2. Having administered the pain medication, the nurse then updated the patient's chart. (correct answer)
  3. The patient's chart was updated by the nurse, having administered the pain medication.
  4. Having administered the pain medication, it was time for the nurse to update the chart.
Explanation: When you encounter grammar questions involving participial phrases (phrases beginning with words like "having," "walking," or "seeing"), you need to check that the phrase logically modifies the correct subject in the sentence. The phrase "Having administered the pain medication" describes an action that must be performed by a person - specifically, the nurse. This participial phrase needs to be immediately followed by the noun it modifies to avoid confusion. Option B correctly places "the nurse" right after the participial phrase, making it clear that the nurse is the one who administered the medication and then updated the chart. The sentence flows logically and grammatically. Option A creates a dangling modifier error. The phrase "Having administered the pain medication" appears to modify "the patient's chart," which is impossible since charts cannot administer medication. This is a common mistake in medical writing. Option C also misplaces the participial phrase. By putting "having administered the pain medication" at the end, it's unclear whether the nurse or the chart administered the medication, creating ambiguity. Option D uses the vague pronoun "it" after the participial phrase, which doesn't clearly identify who performed the action. The phrase "it was time" doesn't logically connect to someone having administered medication. For HESI grammar questions, always check that participial phrases are placed next to the noun they're meant to modify. When you see phrases starting with "-ing" or "having," immediately look for the subject performing that action in the sentence.

Question 10

Which sentence is written most clearly and correctly?

  1. The nurse gave an injection to the anxious child with a steady hand.
  2. With a steady hand, the nurse gave an injection to the anxious child. (correct answer)
  3. The nurse with a steady hand gave an injection to the anxious child.
  4. The nurse gave the anxious child an injection with a steady hand.
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of modifier placement and sentence clarity. When phrases like "with a steady hand" appear in a sentence, their position determines what they're describing, which can create confusion or unintended meanings. Option B is correct because it places "with a steady hand" at the beginning of the sentence, making it immediately clear that this phrase describes how the nurse performed the action. This introductory prepositional phrase eliminates any ambiguity about what the steady hand refers to. Option A creates a misplaced modifier problem. The phrase "with a steady hand" appears at the end, making it unclear whether it describes the nurse's technique or somehow relates to the anxious child. This positioning suggests the child has a steady hand, which doesn't make logical sense in this context. Option C, while grammatically acceptable, creates unnecessary wordiness and slightly awkward phrasing. The modifier "with a steady hand" interrupts the natural flow between the subject and its action. Option D suffers from the same misplaced modifier issue as option A. When "with a steady hand" follows "injection," it could be interpreted as describing the injection itself rather than how the nurse administered it, creating confusion about the intended meaning. For HESI writing questions, remember that clarity trumps complexity. Look for sentences where modifying phrases are positioned to eliminate ambiguity. Introductory phrases often provide the clearest structure, while modifiers at the end of sentences frequently create confusion about what they're actually describing.

Question 11

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

  1. The surgeon, who had years of experience, performed the complex operation.
  2. The patient needs a consultation with a specialist for her chronic condition.
  3. The pharmacist gave a warning to the patient about the medication's side effects.
  4. The nurse brought a tray to the patient that was covered in plastic wrap. (correct answer)
Explanation: When you encounter questions about misplaced modifiers, you're looking for descriptive phrases or clauses that are positioned too far from the words they're meant to modify, creating confusion or unintended humor. In sentence D, the phrase "that was covered in plastic wrap" is a misplaced modifier. As written, it appears to modify "patient" (the nearest noun), suggesting the patient was covered in plastic wrap. However, the intended meaning is that the tray was covered in plastic wrap. The modifier should be repositioned: "The nurse brought a tray that was covered in plastic wrap to the patient." Let's examine why the other options are correct. Choice A properly places the modifier "who had years of experience" immediately after "surgeon," clearly identifying who has the experience. Choice B has no modifying phrases that could be misplaced—each element relates clearly to its intended target. Choice C correctly positions all modifying elements: "to the patient" modifies where the warning was given, and "about the medication's side effects" modifies what the warning concerned. The key strategy for spotting misplaced modifiers is to identify any descriptive phrases or clauses, then check what noun they're actually next to versus what they logically should modify. On the HESI, these questions often involve medical scenarios where precision in communication is crucial—misplaced modifiers in healthcare settings could lead to dangerous misunderstandings, making this concept particularly relevant for future healthcare professionals.

Question 12

Which of the following sentences should be revised to correct a dangling modifier?

  1. While taking the patient's blood pressure, the nurse noticed a rash on his arm.
  2. As a new intern, the long hours in the emergency room were particularly challenging. (correct answer)
  3. To reduce the swelling, the patient was advised to elevate his leg on a pillow.
  4. The doctor, speaking in a calm voice, explained the diagnosis to the worried family.
Explanation: Dangling modifiers occur when a descriptive phrase at the beginning of a sentence doesn't logically connect to the subject that immediately follows it. The modifier "dangles" because it's unclear what it's supposed to modify. Choice B contains a dangling modifier: "As a new intern, the long hours in the emergency room were particularly challenging." The phrase "As a new intern" should modify a person, but the subject that follows is "the long hours," which creates an illogical connection—hours cannot be an intern. The sentence should read: "As a new intern, she found the long hours in the emergency room particularly challenging." Let's examine why the other choices are correct. Choice A properly connects "While taking the patient's blood pressure" to "the nurse"—the nurse is performing the action. Choice C correctly links "To reduce the swelling" to "the patient," who is the one following the advice to elevate his leg. Choice D has no introductory modifier at all; "speaking in a calm voice" is properly placed next to "doctor," showing how the doctor explained the diagnosis. The key to spotting dangling modifiers is checking whether the introductory phrase logically describes the subject immediately following the comma. If there's a mismatch—like a phrase describing a person's role attached to an inanimate object—you've found a dangling modifier. For HESI success, always read the subject right after the comma and ask: "Can this subject logically perform or be described by the opening phrase?"

Question 13

The hospital's new policy requires nurses to either chart patient data electronically or  .

  1. they must complete paper forms
  2. the completion of paper forms
  3. complete paper forms (correct answer)
  4. to complete paper forms
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in grammar, specifically when using correlative conjunctions like "either...or." When you encounter sentences with these paired conjunctions, both parts must follow the same grammatical pattern. The sentence begins with "either chart patient data electronically," where "chart" is a verb in its base form. For parallel structure, whatever follows "or" must also be a verb in its base form. Answer C "complete paper forms" provides exactly this - the base verb "complete" that mirrors the structure of "chart." Let's examine why the other options fail: Answer A "they must complete paper forms" creates faulty parallelism because it introduces a new subject and modal verb, making the sentence read awkwardly as "either chart...or they must complete." Answer B "the completion of paper forms" uses a noun phrase instead of a verb phrase, breaking the parallel structure between "chart" (verb) and "completion" (noun). Answer D "to complete paper forms" uses an infinitive form, which doesn't match the base verb "chart" that follows "either." The correct sentence reads: "The hospital's new policy requires nurses to either chart patient data electronically or complete paper forms." Both verbs (chart, complete) are in their base form, creating smooth, parallel structure. For HESI grammar questions, always identify the grammatical pattern established in the first part of correlative conjunctions (either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also) and ensure the second part matches exactly. This parallel structure rule appears frequently on standardized tests.

Question 14

Which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier that should be corrected?

  1. A powerful antibiotic, the physician prescribed amoxicillin for the patient's severe sinus infection. (correct answer)
  2. The physician prescribed amoxicillin, a powerful antibiotic, for the patient's severe sinus infection.
  3. For the patient's severe sinus infection, the physician prescribed the powerful antibiotic amoxicillin.
  4. The physician prescribed a powerful antibiotic called amoxicillin for the patient's severe sinus infection.
Explanation: When you encounter questions about misplaced modifiers, you're being tested on whether descriptive phrases are positioned next to the words they're meant to describe. Modifiers that appear in the wrong location can create confusing or unintended meanings. Let's examine each sentence carefully. In choice A, the phrase "A powerful antibiotic" appears at the beginning of the sentence, immediately followed by "the physician." This placement suggests that the physician is the powerful antibiotic, which is obviously incorrect. The modifier is misplaced because it's describing "amoxicillin," not "the physician," but the sentence structure puts it next to the wrong noun. Choice B correctly places "a powerful antibiotic" immediately after "amoxicillin" as an appositive phrase, clearly identifying what the antibiotic describes. Choice C avoids the modifier issue entirely by restructuring the sentence so that "powerful antibiotic" directly precedes "amoxicillin." Choice D also correctly positions "powerful antibiotic" right before "amoxicillin," making the relationship crystal clear. The key difference is that choice A creates ambiguity about what "a powerful antibiotic" is describing due to its position at the sentence's beginning. The other three choices all place descriptive words directly next to "amoxicillin," eliminating any confusion. Study tip: When you see modifier questions on the HESI, always ask yourself "What is this descriptive phrase supposed to be describing?" Then check if it's positioned next to that word. Misplaced modifiers often appear at the beginning of sentences where they accidentally describe the subject instead of their intended target.

Question 15

The nurse explained the side effects of the medication to the patient in a clear and concise brochure.

  1. The sentence is correct as written.
  2. The modifier 'in a clear and concise brochure' is misplaced. (correct answer)
  3. The verb 'explained' is in the incorrect tense for the context.
  4. The sentence lacks correct subject-verb agreement.
Explanation: This question tests your ability to identify misplaced modifiers, which are words or phrases that don't clearly modify the intended word in a sentence. When you encounter modifier questions, always ask: "What is being modified, and is the modifier in the right position?" In this sentence, the phrase "in a clear and concise brochure" is positioned right after "patient," which makes it sound like the patient is inside the brochure rather than the explanation being contained in the brochure. The modifier should be closer to what it actually describes—the side effects or the explanation itself. A clearer version would be: "The nurse explained the side effects of the medication in a clear and concise brochure to the patient" or "Using a clear and concise brochure, the nurse explained the side effects of the medication to the patient." Let's examine why the other options are incorrect: A) is wrong because the sentence contains the misplaced modifier described above. C) is incorrect because "explained" is the appropriate past tense verb for this context—there's nothing wrong with the verb tense. D) is wrong because the subject "nurse" properly agrees with the singular verb "explained." Study tip: When checking for misplaced modifiers, read the sentence carefully and identify what each descriptive phrase is supposed to modify. If a modifier could logically refer to multiple things in the sentence, it's probably misplaced. Always position modifiers as close as possible to the words they're meant to describe.

Question 16

Exhausted after a twelve-hour shift, the patient's loud coughing was particularly jarring to the nurse.

  1. Exhausted after a twelve-hour shift, the patient's loud coughing was particularly jarring to the nurse.
  2. The patient's loud coughing was particularly jarring to the nurse, who was exhausted after a twelve-hour shift. (correct answer)
  3. Being exhausted after a twelve-hour shift, the patient's loud coughing was particularly jarring.
  4. The patient's loud coughing, to the nurse, was particularly jarring, exhausted after a twelve-hour shift.
Explanation: This question tests your ability to identify and correct dangling modifiers, a common grammar error that can make healthcare writing unclear and potentially dangerous. The key issue here is determining who or what is "exhausted after a twelve-hour shift." Logic tells us it must be the nurse, not the patient's coughing. When a descriptive phrase begins a sentence, it must clearly modify the subject that immediately follows. Option B correctly places "the nurse" as the main subject and uses a relative clause ("who was exhausted") to clearly indicate that the nurse, not the coughing, experienced the exhaustion. This creates a logical, clear sentence structure. Option A contains a dangling modifier because "exhausted after a twelve-hour shift" appears to modify "the patient's loud coughing," which is nonsensical. Coughing cannot work a twelve-hour shift. Option C has the same dangling modifier problem as A. "Being exhausted" still appears to modify "the patient's loud coughing" rather than the nurse. Option D attempts to fix the problem but creates awkward, unclear construction. The phrase "exhausted after a twelve-hour shift" is misplaced and could modify either "nurse" or "coughing," making the meaning ambiguous. For HESI success, always check that opening descriptive phrases clearly connect to the correct subject. In healthcare communication, ambiguous writing can lead to serious misunderstandings. When you spot a sentence beginning with a descriptive phrase, immediately ask: "Who or what does this phrase actually describe?"

Question 17

To be a successful phlebotomist, one must have steady hands, excellent communication skills, and  .

  1. to pay close attention to detail
  2. paying close attention to detail is necessary
  3. pay close attention to detail
  4. close attention to detail (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in lists. When you create a series of items connected by commas and "and," each element must follow the same grammatical pattern to maintain clarity and flow. The sentence structure is: "one must have [item 1], [item 2], and [item 3]." Looking at the existing items, you have "steady hands" (noun phrase) and "excellent communication skills" (noun phrase). The third item must also be a noun phrase to maintain parallel structure. Answer choice D, "close attention to detail," is correct because it's a noun phrase that matches the pattern of the other two items. All three elements now follow the same structure: adjective + noun (+ prepositional phrase). Answer choice A, "to pay close attention to detail," is incorrect because it's an infinitive phrase, which breaks the parallel structure with the noun phrases that came before. Answer choice B, "paying close attention to detail is necessary," creates a complete clause rather than a simple phrase, making the sentence grammatically awkward and non-parallel. Answer choice C, "pay close attention to detail," uses a verb phrase that doesn't match the noun phrase pattern established by "steady hands" and "excellent communication skills." For HESI language questions, always check that items in a series follow the same grammatical pattern. When you see lists connected by commas and conjunctions, identify the structure of the first items, then choose the answer that maintains that same structure throughout.

Question 18

The new cardiac monitor is more reliable, easier to operate, and  .

  1. it costs less than the old model
  2. less costly than the old model (correct answer)
  3. costs less than the old model
  4. a lower cost than the old model
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in writing, a concept that frequently appears on standardized exams. When listing items in a series, each element must follow the same grammatical pattern to maintain clarity and flow. The sentence presents three characteristics of the cardiac monitor in a series: "more reliable, easier to operate, and  ." The first two items are comparative adjectives ("more reliable" and "easier"), so the third item must also be a comparative adjective to maintain parallel structure. Option B "less costly than the old model" follows this pattern perfectly, using the comparative adjective "less costly" that mirrors the structure of the previous items. Let's examine why the other options fail. Option A "it costs less than the old model" breaks parallel structure by introducing a complete clause with a subject and verb ("it costs"), while the previous items were simple comparative phrases. Option C "costs less than the old model" uses a verb form ("costs") rather than an adjective, disrupting the grammatical pattern. Option D "a lower cost than the old model" uses a noun phrase ("a lower cost") instead of the required comparative adjective structure. When you encounter questions about sentence completion or grammar on the HESI, always identify the existing pattern in the sentence first. Look at how the other items in a series are structured, then choose the option that maintains that same grammatical form. This approach will help you quickly eliminate answers that break parallel structure.

Question 19

Which of the following sentences uses parallel structure correctly?

  1. The patient's symptoms included a high fever, coughing frequently, and his body was aching.
  2. Key nursing duties include patient assessment, administering medications, and the documentation of care.
  3. The research indicated that the new drug was safe, effective, and relatively inexpensive to produce. (correct answer)
  4. The paramedic's job is not only to stabilize the patient but also transporting them safely to the hospital.
Explanation: Parallel structure questions test your ability to maintain consistent grammatical forms when listing items or ideas. When you encounter sentences with series or comparisons, look for whether all elements follow the same pattern. The correct answer is C because all three elements in the list follow identical grammatical structure: "safe" (adjective), "effective" (adjective), and "relatively inexpensive" (adjective phrase). Each item describes a quality of the drug using the same part of speech, creating smooth, balanced writing that's easy to follow. Let's examine why the other options break parallel structure. Option A mixes different grammatical forms: "a high fever" (noun phrase), "coughing frequently" (gerund phrase), and "his body was aching" (complete clause). This inconsistency creates awkward, unbalanced writing. Option B starts well with "patient assessment" and "administering medications" but then shifts to "the documentation of care," breaking the pattern by adding an article and changing the structure. Option D uses the correlative conjunction pair "not only...but also" incorrectly. After "not only," we see an infinitive phrase "to stabilize," but after "but also," we get a gerund "transporting." These should match: either "not only to stabilize...but also to transport" or "not only stabilizing...but also transporting." For HESI success, remember that parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms. When you see lists, comparisons, or correlative conjunctions (both/and, either/or, not only/but also), check that all elements use the same grammatical pattern. This skill is crucial for clear healthcare communication.

Question 20

To ensure accurate results, the lab technician must handle the samples carefully.

  1. To ensure accurate results, the lab technician must handle the samples carefully. (correct answer)
  2. The samples must be handled carefully by the lab technician to ensure accurate results.
  3. To ensure accurate results, the samples must be handled carefully by the lab technician.
  4. Careful handling of the samples is required by the lab technician to ensure accurate results.
Explanation: This question tests your ability to identify proper sentence structure and avoid dangling modifiers. When you see sentences that start with phrases like "To ensure accurate results," pay close attention to what follows the comma—it must logically connect to the opening phrase. Answer choice A is correct because it maintains proper grammatical structure. The introductory phrase "To ensure accurate results" logically modifies "the lab technician," which immediately follows the comma. This creates a clear, direct sentence where the subject (lab technician) is the one performing the action to achieve the stated purpose. Answer choice B changes the sentence to passive voice ("samples must be handled"), which weakens the clarity and directness of the statement. While grammatically acceptable, it's less precise than the active voice construction. Answer choice C also uses passive voice and creates a slightly awkward construction where the purpose clause precedes the main action. The sentence structure becomes unnecessarily complex compared to the straightforward active voice version. Answer choice D transforms the sentence into a more wordy, bureaucratic-sounding statement using "is required by" instead of direct action. This construction is less clear and more cumbersome than the original. On the HESI exam, look for sentences that maintain active voice and clear subject-verb relationships. When you see introductory phrases, make sure the subject immediately following the comma can logically perform the action or fulfill the purpose stated in that opening phrase. Choose the most direct, clear construction over passive or overly complex alternatives.