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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Smith view the firefighters he wrote about in the book compared to firefighters across the country?
(a) They are unique in their level of bravery.
(b) They are the most skilled.
(c) They are representative of all firefighters.
(d) They are unique in their experiences.

2. What did the three men sitting on Charlotte Street do when they saw the kid pull the false alarm in Chapter 3?
(a) They chased the kid.
(b) They called the police.
(c) They did nothing.
(d) They called the kid's parents.

3. To what experience does Smith compare his work for the fire department in the Introduction?
(a) Police work.
(b) Diplomacy.
(c) Wartime.
(d) Espionage.

4. How was Fireman Nick Riso injured while responding to a call?
(a) He was injured in a fire.
(b) He suffered smoke inhalation.
(c) He was involved in a car accident.
(d) Someone threw a brick at him while he was responding to a call.

5. Why was one of the firefighters upset about the Vietnam War protesters?
(a) He supported the war effort.
(b) He felt they were in college simply because it helped them avoid the draft.
(c) He was upset about the disruption to society.
(d) He felt the protesters did not understand the war.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did the men take turns manning the hose while battling the apartment building fire in Chapter 5?

2. How many injured people were found in the Kelly Street apartment?

3. Approximately what percentage of the fire department's calls were for actual fires?

4. What happened to the fireman who was injured while responding to a call in Chapter 4?

5. Why was his wife upset the morning Smith went back to work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Katherine Anne Porter mean by "a book will find its author" and how did that apply to Dennis Smith?

2. Why does Smith say city workers were fleeing cities to live in the suburbs?

3. Besides the risks to firefighters, what does Dennis Smith believe is a real risk of malicious false alarms?

4. Why did some of the men defend Chief Marks despite the fact that he was known for yelling at the firefighters?

5. Why did the firemen tease Billy Valenzio about his strength?

6. How does the fire department announce the death of a fellow firefighter in the line of duty?

7. Why did Artie think the 20th century should be called the "Great Zap"?

8. Why, according to Dennis Smith, were so many false alarms were pulled in the South Bronx?

9. Describe how fireman Jim Stack fought the apartment fire at 1284 Fox in Chapter 3.

10. How did the attack on Firefighter Nick Riso (a brick was thrown at him in Chapter 3) make Smith feel?

(see the answer keys)

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