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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Smith describe his political leanings?

2. How long did Smith take off to recover from the throat damage he sustained during the Prospect Avenue fire in Chapter 3?

3. How did Smith remember details for the book while working full-time?

4. How did the firefighters save the life of the overdose victim on Hoe Avenue?

5. From which service area did Fireman Vinny Royce switch to join Engine Co. 82?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the firemen mean by the term "tough shit" during their discussion of the arson fire in Chapter 1?

2. Why was Smith reminded of the sun when he entered the burning room on Forest Avenue in Chapter 5?

3. How does Smith describe the fire marshals sent to investigate the Intervale Avenue fire?

4. Why were the firefighters remaining at the scene of the fire on Forest Avenue (in Chapter 5) unsure of the names of the injured firemen?

5. What did the South Bronx neighbors do in an attempt to stop malicious false alarms from the Hoe Avenue alarm box and was it effective?

6. What is Smith's view of the political leaders of New York City?

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

8. How did the firefighters feel about the deaths of the two teenagers in the Intervale Avenue arson fire in Chapter 1?

9. How did Smith's mother's attitude toward work reflect an old-fashioned way of viewing labor in New York City?

10. In reflecting on the boys who chanted hate-filled slogans at the firefighters in Chapter 4, Smith reflects that "people don't hate other people." What does he mean by that?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although willing to run into burning buildings, Smith was nevertheless unhinged by the sight of cockroaches and was unable to remain in a roach-infested room for long. What images were conveyed to Smith by the sight of the roaches and why was he unable to ignore them? How did his knowledge of cockroaches provide him with a deeper understanding of the conditions in which the South Bronx residents live?

Essay Topic 2

"Report From Engine Co. 82" was the first full-length book providing ordinary citizens with a glimpse into the insular world of firemen, and it became a runaway bestseller. Smith speaks of being thrilled about the opportunity to share his life with ordinary citizens. Why do you think the book proved so popular? Were people hungry for information about the lives of people they only saw during times of crisis? Do you think the book changed any opinions about the work firefighters do?

Essay Topic 3

The firefighters of Engine Co. 82 made several efforts to connect with the neighborhood children, for example, through ice cream parties. Do these sorts of community outreach projects ultimately help the community and if so, how? How can seeing authority figures "at ease" and off the job help children see them as non-threatening? Smith at one point expresses dismay that firefighters willing to to crawl through a fire to rescue one black child will share ice cream with 100 black children. In what ways do these community outreach projects help firefighters themselves? Do they normally get the chance to see people at their best? Can getting to know the neighbors outside of emergency calls help firefighters develop a deeper and more satisfying relationship with their community?

(see the answer keys)

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