Chapter 11 Summary and Analysis

When Dennis Smith takes the evaluation test to become a fireman, that same day across vast New York City, some 8,000 young men competed for the same jobs. The most difficult service examination to pass in New York City is that for fireman—it has the most difficult and technical questions. Out of the 8,000 who took the evaluation, only 2,000 qualified for current or future positions in the NYFD. Dennis Smith was one of those 2,000. Dennis passed the background investigation that included an in-depth criminal check as well as a strenuous physical exam. All elements were considered in the selection of the final, qualifying candidates.

The medical exam weeds out more candidates—a candidate had to be at least 5'7", have 20/20 vision, perfect hearing and be in perfect physical health. Two years later, Dennis Smith is engaged, in his first year...