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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 several firefighters (including Smith) fighting a blaze at a two-story factory building?

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

3. What happened when two of the fire trucks collided while responding to a call in Chapter 4?

4. Which magazine asked Smith to write about firefighters?

5. Why did the John Birch Society want a local teacher in Washingtonville fired?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In what ways does Smith view the old-style machine politics as preferable to the current system?

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

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

6. How was Firefighter Mike Carr killed?

7. What does Dennis Smith think should be done with people who pull malicious false alarms, and why?

8. 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?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Firefighters work long shifts that require them to both sleep and eat meals at the station. How does Smith demonstrate that this enforced closeness with fellow firefighters encourages a sense of brotherhood? Did the cooking and sharing of meals among the men of Engine Co. 82 foster a unique relationship that was missing in other professions? Is there a unique value in seeing your fellow firefighters at their best and their worst (i.e., grumpy before morning coffee, poor hygiene, an issue Smith addresses in the book) throughout the day? Does this help explain the fierce loyalty described by Smith?

Essay Topic 2

Smith continued to work in the South Bronx despite the dangers and despite the fact that moving to another neighborhood would still allow him to serve as a firefighter, but in a safer environment. What compels some people to risk their lives for little or nothing in return? Are some people born with a unique sense of compassion and generosity or can this be cultivated in anyone? What kind of intangible rewards did Smith get from serving the South Bronx that he may not have gotten from serving, say, the Upper East Side?

Essay Topic 3

There were several incidents in the book in which firefighters were attacked by the very neighbors they were trying to help. The book took place at a time in which young people were questioning all authority, especially that of police. Why were firefighters seen as authority figures not to be trusted? Did Smith view this as a logical view of firemen or as a confusing result of desperate poverty?

(see the answer keys)

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