Reading Comprehension - Practice Exam Part 2

April 9, 2007
Part 2 of a 3 part series of Reading Comprehension - Practice Exams.

Information Ordering

Lt. Banks is giving a lecture on the proper procedure when cutting a hole in a roof to provide adequate ventilation. He would like to include the statements listed below in his lecture. These statements have not been listed in the correct order.
1)The hole should be located between the joists or rafters. Thus the joists or rafters should never be cut, as they are the main support for the roof.
2)Locate the joists by sounding with the axe and noting the area that is solid. A solid sound will denote the location of the joist.
3)Upon identifying wood sheathing, the firefighter may begin cutting with the fire axe. The axe should not be swung as a wood cutter would use it, but with short quick strokes.
4)Once the joists are located, an adequate size hole at least 4 feet should be marked on the roof with the pick head. The roof covering tar paper should be removed before proceeding with the cutting procedure.

11.The above procedure should be performed in which of the following order?
A)1, 2, 3, 4
B)2, 1, 3, 4
C)1, 2, 4, 3
D)2, 1, 4, 3

Lieutenant Pender made the following comments when discussing bends, knots, and hitches in rope:
1)The bends that a rope undergoes in the formation of a knot or hitch are of three kinds: the bight, loop, and round turn.
2)Knots and hitches are formed by combining these elements in different ways so that the tight part of the rope bears on the free end to hold it in place.
3)The bight is formed by simply bending the rope, keeping the sides parallel; the loop is made by crossing the sides of a bight; the round turn consists of the further bending of one side of a loop.
4)Knots weaken a rope because the rope is bent in order to form the knot and the outside fibers take most of the strain at the bend.
5)The knot that weakens the rope the least is one requiring the least abrupt bending.

12.Lieutenant Pender's discussion would be most effective if the above comments were presented in the following order?
A)1, 2, 3, 5, 4
B)5, 4, 2, 1, 3
C)3, 1, 4, 5, 2
D)4, 5, 1, 3, 2

Lieutenant Arthurs has prepared the following comments to stress the increased importance of respiratory protection to firefighters:
1)Such is not the case in our technological world of today.
2)When homes were built of wood and contained furnishings of ordinary combustibles they produced fewer toxic products of combustion.
3)It has been well documented that most fire deaths occur from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, rather than actual contact with fire.
4)The need for respiratory protection in the fire service has increased greatly over the years.
5)These gases, though still unhealthy, were not lethal in small quantities.
6)Plastics, synthetic materials, pesticides, and other hazardous products can be found everywhere.

13.The above comments could be made most effectively if they were presented in the following order.
A)3, 6, 1, 2, 5, 4
B)2, 5, 6, 1, 4, 3
C)4, 2, 5, 1, 6, 3
D)6, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5

Deductive Reasoning

During the night tour at Engine Company 500, eleven (11) alarms were received between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. The types of alarms and times of occurrences were as follows:
Alarm #1 6:03 p.m. illegally opened hydrant
Alarm #2 6:41 p.m. false alarm
Alarm #3 7:00 p.m. car fire in an abandoned car
Alarm #4 7:25 p.m. garbage can fire
Alarm #5 8:30 p.m. false alarm
Alarm #6 12:18 a.m. fire in a wood frame house
Alarm #7 1:09 a.m. fire in a brownstone apartment
Alarm #8 2:45 a.m. basement fire in a hospital
Alarm #9 5:02 a.m. sprinkler malfunction in an all-night deli
Alarm #10 7:53 a.m. false alarm
Alarm #11 8:29 a.m. food on the stove fire

14.Based on the list of alarms, which one of the following statements is correct?
A)False alarms occur most frequently in the early morning
B)Fires involving victims are most likely to occur in the early evening
C)Severe fires are most likely to occur in the early morning
D)Non-fire related alarms occur more frequently in the evening

Listed below are emergency steps for buildings filled with gas but not involved in fire. These steps are to be followed in this exact order.
1)Have dispatcher notify proper gas emergency crew.
2)Park fire vehicle well away from building; lay a line to handle fire following possible explosion.
3)Shut off gas outside at meter or curb valve.
4)Open windows and doors from outside to obtain ventilation.
5)Evacuate any endangered occupants.
6)Do not operate any electric switches inside the gas-involved area.
7)Use combustible gas indicators to determine when entry is safe.
8)Wear self-contained masks to trace source of escaping gas and shut off or plug (but do NOT then turn on gas to building - leave restoration of service to gas company employees.)

15.Firefighters have arrived on the scene of a building filled with natural gas. It has been reported by the occupants of the building that there is no fire. Firefighters have shut off the gas outside at meter or curb valve. They should next:
A)evacuate any endangered occupants
B)have dispatcher notify proper gas emergency crew
C)open windows and doors from outside to obtain ventilation
D)use combustible gas indicators to determine when entry is safe

16.Engine Company 29 has arrived on the scene of Southwest Elementary School. They have been informed that there is a gas leak within the building, but no report of fire. Firefighters have parked away from the building and laid a hand line for safety considerations. They have shut off the gas at the outside meter and have opened windows and doors from outside to obtain ventilation. All endangered occupants have been evacuated. Firefighters have also turned on electrical lights in the hallway to assist in the evacuation process. They then used combustible gas indicators to determine when re-entry is safe.

Which of the following listed below is correct concerning the gas emergency at the elementary school:
A)firefighters operated according to specified guidelines
B)firefighters did not open doors from outside to obtain ventilation
C)firefighters operated an electrical switch within the building
D)firefighters did not lay the proper amount of hose line as safety precautions require

ANSWERS:

Information Ordering

11. Answer is C.
1) The hole should be located between the joists or rafters. Thus the joists or rafters should never be cut, as they are the main support for the roof.
2) Locate the joists by sounding with the axe and noting the area that is solid. A solid sound will denote the location of the joist.
4) Once the joists are located, an adequate size hole at least 4 feet should be marked on the roof with the pick head. The roof covering tar paper should be removed before proceeding with the cutting procedure.
3) Upon identifying wood sheathing, the firefighter may begin cutting with the fire axe. The axe should not be swung as a wood cutter would use it, but with short quick strokes.

12. Answer is D.
4) Knots weaken a rope because the rope is bent in order to form the knot and the outside fibers take most of the strain at the bend.
5) The knot that weakens the rope the least is one requiring the least abrupt bending.
1) The bends that a rope undergoes in the formation of a knot or hitch are of three kinds: the bight, loop, and round turn.
3) The bight is formed by simply bending the rope, keeping the sides parallel; the loop is made by crossing the sides of a bight; the round turn consists of the further bending of one side of a loop.
2) Knots and hitches are formed by combining these elements in different ways so that the tight part of the rope bears on the free end to hold it in place.

13. Answer is C.
4) The need for respiratory protection in the fire service has increased greatly over the years.
2) When homes were built of wood and contained furnishings of ordinary combustibles they produced fewer toxic products of combustion.
5) These gases, though still unhealthy, were not lethal in small quantities.
1) Such is not the case in our technological world of today.
6) Plastics, synthetic materials, pesticides, and other hazardous products can be found everywhere.
3) It has been well documented that most fire deaths occur from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, rather than actual contact with fire.

Deductive Reasoning

14. C - As stated in the types of alarms and times of occurrences chart, the severe fires were alarms #6, #7, and #8, all of which occurred in the early morning hours.

15. C - After completing step #3 - shutting off the gas outside at meter or curb valve - firefighters would proceed to step #4 which involves opening windows and doors from outside to obtain ventilation.

16. C - Of the choices listed, the correct statement concerning the gas emergency at the school is that firefighters operated an electrical switch within the building.

Additional pratice exams can be found here. Good luck !!!!!!!!!!!

Since 1950, Don McNea Fire School has prepared over 40,000 fire applicants with our entry level seminars and products. Fireprep.com has over 250 pages of FREE information and career articles to help you reach your goal of becoming a firefighter.

Go to www.fireprep.com and register for our free fireprep e-mail newsletter that currently has over 20,000 subscribers.

You will also be entered in our drawing to WIN a free copy of our "Encyclopedia of Firefighter Examinations" & "Psychological Exam Preparation" . Good luck !!!!

If you want to start getting that competitive edge immediately over your competition, our 14 day FREE e-mail series covers the written, psychological, oral interview and physical agility. This e-mail series will guide you step by step through the maze of the testing process to help you shorten that learning curve between you and that coveted badge. As soon as you sign-up you will receive the first e-mail with important inside secrets. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!! Go to the link below for our 14 day e-mail series sign-up. Good luck !! Click here: Fireprep.com Free 14 Day Email Series

Click here: Free 50 Question Firefighter Practice Examination, Free Firefighter Exam Questions 1-10

Information on 'How to become a firefighter'

Don McNea Fire School www.fireprep.com
Click here to send an email
1-800-989-FIRE

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!