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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What is the minimum height for a fireman in New York?
(a) 5'9".
(b) 5'7".
(c) 6'0".
(d) 5'4".

3. For which radical group was the group of Park Avenue residents raising money in the magazine article read by Smith in Chapter 7?
(a) Students for a Democratic Society.
(b) Gray Panthers.
(c) Black Panthers.
(d) Symbionese Liberation Army.

4. What ethnic group was now predominate in the formerly Irish neighborhood in which Smith grew up?
(a) Puerto Ricans.
(b) Dominicans.
(c) Blacks.
(d) Chinese.

5. Why did Smith not want to leave the South Bronx?
(a) He thought other places would be boring.
(b) He felt the neighborhood needed him.
(c) He was determined to become a captain.
(d) He received extra pay for working in a tough neighborhood.

6. Why did Smith think his school principal and mother were wrong to lament his dropping out?
(a) He did not think he was good enough at academics.
(b) He wanted to get out of New York.
(c) He believed school was a waste of time.
(d) He believed he'd make a lot of money working instead.

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

8. What is the Irish way of making tea, as described by Smith in Chapter 7?
(a) Black tea plain.
(b) Half tea and half milk.
(c) Black tea with sugar.
(d) Cream and sugar.

9. After years of "carrying death in my hands," what did Smith see firefighting as lacking?
(a) High pay.
(b) Stability.
(c) Security.
(d) Glamor.

10. What did the welfare inspector recommend to the welfare agency after the visit?
(a) He recommended no change in benefits.
(b) He recommended an increase in benefits so that the children could get winter coats.
(c) He recommended an increase in benefits so the family could have more to eat.
(d) He recommended a decrease in benefits when he saw the television.

11. Where did the firemen's training occur?
(a) Welfare Island.
(b) Staten Island.
(c) Long Island.
(d) Ellis Island.

12. How did Smith try to impress people after dropping out of school?
(a) By claiming he was saving money to tour Europe.
(b) By claiming he was studying to be a botanist.
(c) By claiming he was studying business.
(d) By claiming he planned to become manager of the store one day.

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

14. What did the cockroaches symbolize in Smith's view?
(a) Uncleanliness.
(b) Poverty.
(c) Disease.
(d) Fear.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What holiday was being celebrated on Smith's day off in Chapter 7?

2. How old was Smith when he filled out an application to the fire department?

3. Why did Smith's mother hide the television under a bedspread?

4. How many stitches did Fireman Billy-o get in Chapter 7?

5. Why was Dennis upset about the visit from the welfare inspector?

(see the answer keys)

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