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

2. To what experience does Smith compare his work for the fire department in the Introduction?

3. On what street did the firefighters respond to a large fire in Chapter 5?

4. Why does Smith say there are fewer fires today compared to the period during which he served?

5. Why did Smith want to re-read the Yeats poem about wise men becoming tense with violence before they can accomplish fate?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe Fireman Jim Gintel's personality.

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

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

7. Explain why the landlord of the Intervale Avenue apartment building wanted the place torched.

8. What did Dennis Smith observe about the attitude of the driver who hit the young boy and was then beaten by the crowd in Chapter 2?

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

10. Why does Dennis Smith think firefighters--although regular people--are nevertheless somehow apart from others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Smith reveals a particular contempt for people who steal from their fellow poor and mentions that he himself shoplifted from fancy stores as a child, but would never have stolen from a neighbor. What do you think about this attitude? Is it acceptable for the poor to steal from stores? Does shoplifting have an effect only on the store owner or does the effect trickle down to the entire community? Should the punishments be different depending upon whom the victim is?

Essay Topic 2

Smith met numerous neighborhood children during his years of service--some of them eventually fell prey to the streets, while for others, the future was not yet known. Does Smith feel that society at large can help to ensure that neglected children in poor neighborhoods do not fall victim to the violence and depression around them? What does he believe is society's role in reaching out to needy children who are being ignored by the families?

Essay Topic 3

"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?

(see the answer keys)

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