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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. What did the landlord of the Kelly Street apartments do once the youths had spread the gasoline around?
(a) He was not at the scene.
(b) He threw a match and locked the men in.
(c) He tried to get the young men out.
(d) He had the young men light the gasoline.

2. What did Fireman Big Van of Ladder 42 drink once he quit drinking beer?
(a) Vodka.
(b) Gin.
(c) Scotch.
(d) Wine.

3. What did the kids across the street from the Union Avenue fire do when the firefighters arrived?
(a) They cheered.
(b) They asked the firefighters to give them a ride.
(c) They sang.
(d) They chanted and yelled insults.

4. In Smith's description, how does the life of a firefighter differ from that of other city workers?
(a) They are the brave ones.
(b) They are the least respected of all city workers.
(c) When he leaves in the morning, he may not come home alive.
(d) They are the most respected of all city workers.

5. Why was Smith sent to the hospital after the Prospect Avenue fire?
(a) He sustained smoke damage to his throat.
(b) He suffered injuries from falling debris.
(c) He suffered slight burns.
(d) He broke his ankle leaving the building.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did the firefighters not enter the burning apartment building in Chapter 5?

2. Whose job is it to investigate suspicious fires?

3. How would firefighters have designed a building differently to make firefighting easier, according to Smith?

4. How does Smith describe his political leanings?

5. Why did Smith move outside the city after growing up there?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Firefighter Jim's reaction to news of the arrests of Vietnam War protesters in Chapter 3?

2. Describe Fireman Jim Gintel's personality.

3. Why does Smith tell his mother that he feels compelled to continue working in the dangerous South Bronx neighborhood?

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

5. What was Dennis Smith's main concern about writing about his fellow firefighters?

6. Why do you think Dennis Smith found the act of writing the book as exciting as responding to fire calls?

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

8. How was Firefighter Mike Carr killed?

9. 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?

10. What did the firemen do when they got the second teenager out of the Intervale Avenue apartment building, which was torched in the arson attack in Chapter 1?

(see the answer keys)

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