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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kind of living quarters did Dennis Smith grow up in?
(a) A New York City tenement.
(b) A New York City high-rise studio apartment.
(c) A townhouse in the Bronx.
(d) A single-family house in Flushing.

2. Why did the city fence off the empty lots near the fire station?
(a) To prevent garbage from being dumped.
(b) To cut down on prostitution.
(c) To keep children away from dangerous areas.
(d) To prevent drug dealers from using the lots.

3. What was the name of the young prostitute who lived in the neighborhood served by Engine Co. 82?
(a) Marisol Vega.
(b) Tina deVega.
(c) Jennifer Rodriguez.
(d) Tina Sanchez.

4. At what age did Smith drop out of school?
(a) Seventeen.
(b) Fourteen.
(c) Fifteen.
(d) Sixteen.

5. What three jobs did the nuns at Smith's school tell the students they could aspire to?
(a) Cop, teacher.
(b) Fireman, cop, teacher.
(c) Fireman, cop.
(d) President, fireman, cop.

6. Why did George say firefighters will never realize they are being duped?
(a) Because they were not smart enough to realize they were being duped.
(b) Because you had to be crazy to run into a fire and crazy people do not recognize reality.
(c) Because they knew the city would never help them.
(d) Because they took pride in providing for themselves.

7. How were most people escaping from the blaze on Intervale Avenue in Chapter 10?
(a) Through access doors to the roof.
(b) By fire escape.
(c) Through the windows.
(d) Down the stairs.

8. What free perk did New York firemen get?
(a) Free rides on the subway.
(b) Free clothes.
(c) Free taxi rides.
(d) Free admission to parks.

9. How many shots did the police officer fire at the fleeing youth in front of the fire station in Chapter 6?
(a) Five.
(b) One.
(c) Two.
(d) Three.

10. To which classical literary figure does Smith refer when describing the wounds on the young girl assaulted by her stepfather in Chapter 9?
(a) Medea.
(b) Electra.
(c) Medusa.
(d) Gaia.

11. How did the firefighters eventually subdue the naked man on Southern Boulevard?
(a) By wrapping him in a blanket.
(b) By tackling him.
(c) By using a stun gun.
(d) By talking him into dropping the weapon.

12. What did Smith see in Fireman Billy-o as he held the baby who died in the fire?
(a) Depression.
(b) His humanity.
(c) Despair.
(d) Hatred.

13. Who was temporarily in charge while Captain Albergray was on vacation in Chapter 10?
(a) Bill Valenzio.
(b) Artie Merritt.
(c) Lieutenant Collins.
(d) Lieutenant Stack.

14. What actor was interviewed in the Playboy issue, read by Smith in Chapter 7?
(a) Jack Nicholson.
(b) Elliott Gould.
(c) Donald Sutherland.
(d) Marlon Brando.

15. What did the woman do to the man whose Intervale Avenue apartment burned in Chapter 7?
(a) She pointed a gun at him.
(b) She went after him with a machete.
(c) She went after him with a knife.
(d) She threw a lamp at him.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Smith's attitude toward cockroaches change as an adult?

2. Why were merchants good to firefighters (i.e., by giving them discounts) under the old system?

3. What did the newspaper article say a firefighter rescued following a rubbish fire?

4. How did Smith try to impress people after dropping out of school?

5. What was the cause of the fire the men responded to at Union and 166th Street in Chapter 10?

(see the answer keys)

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