Firefighter exam for dummies

xiv, 416 p. : ill. ; 28 cm. Contents: Introduction -- About this book -- Conventions used in this book -- Foolish assumptions -- How this book is organized -- Part 1: So you want to be a firefighter? Get ready! -- Part 2: Gearing up to take the test: the written exam -- Part 3: Demonstrating physical, mental, and emotional fitness with interactive tests -- Part 4: Practice firefighter exams -- Part 5: Part of tens -- Icons used in this book -- Where to go from here -- Part 1: So You Want To Be a Firefighter? Get Ready! -- Chapter 1: Getting the lowdown on the job of firefighter -- Understanding what it's like to be a firefighter -- Knowing your role -- Looking at shifts: timing is everything -- Picturing your work environment -- Considering risks on the job -- Handling the highs and lows -- From firefighter to Fire Chief: climbing the fire department ladder -- Staring on the bottom rung -- Firefighter -- Engineer -- Moving to middle management -- Fire lieutenant -- Fire captain -- Battalion chief -- Becoming the top dog -- Assistant/division chief -- Deputy chief -- Fire chief -- Finding firefighters: who they work for -- In the public sector -- In the private sector -- Predicting the future: how many firefighting jobs will there be? -- Chapter 2: Throwing your hat in the ring: applying to be a firefighter -- Finding and applying for a job -- Understanding job requirements -- Obtaining information about the exam and the position -- Filling out the application -- Submitting resumes, cover letters, and references -- Noting special considerations -- Road to landing a firefighter job -- Written exam -- Physical ability test -- Oral interview -- Medical exam -- Psychological evaluation -- Chapter 3: Preparing yourself for the firefighter exam -- Getting familiar with the written exam -- Test format -- Question topics -- Tips for the written exam -- Preparing for the non-written tests -- 1,2,3, lift: prepping for the physical test -- You don't say: prepping for the oral test/interview -- Keeping it clean: prepping for the background check -- Take a deep breath: prepping for the medical test -- Don't psych yourself out: prepping for the psychological test -- Part 2: Gearing Up To Take The Test: The Written Exam -- Chapter 4: Showing off your reading and verbal comprehension -- Getting an overview of the reading and verbal comprehension component -- What is a reading passage, anyway? -- Tuning in to the listening portion -- Processing what you read and hear -- Scanning the questions first -- Noting important details -- Figuring out the main idea -- Answering different types of questions -- Finding-details questions -- Determining-the-main-idea questions -- Questions about new words -- Questions that use not or except -- Drawing-conclusions questions -- Questions about charts and tables -- Practice reading and verbal comprehension questions -- Answers and explanations -- Chapter 5: Mastering verbal expression -- Acing vocabulary questions -- Choosing the correct synonym -- Looking for context clues -- Acing spelling questions -- Remembering spelling rules -- Mastering commonly misspelled words -- Acing grammar questions -- Choosing the correct verb tense -- Choosing an agreeable answer: subject-verb agreement -- Choosing the correct pronoun (or pronoun-like adjective) -- Navigating space and time: prepositions -- Using the right adjective: is it good, better, or best? -- Practice verbal expression questions -- Answers and explanations -- Chapter 6: Testing your observation and memory -- Watching out for observations and memory questions -- Observing diagrams and other images -- Reading the words accompanying an image -- Reading and recalling written information -- Developing great observational skills -- Covering space: how to observe using a pattern -- Covering topics: How to observe using memory devices -- Handling questions involving recall -- Answering questions about visual material -- Answering questions about written material -- Practice observation and memory questions -- Answers and explanations -- Chapter 7: Sizing up your spatial orientation skills -- Getting from place to place with spatial orientations -- Answering questions about maps and floor plans -- Noting the details -- Reading the question and tracing the route -- Choosing the correct answer -- Practice spatial orientation questions -- Answers and explanations -- Chapter 8: Making decisions based on reasoning and judgment -- Applying reasoning and judgment to firefighting -- Answering questions about firefighting operations -- Answering questions about interpersonal relations -- Answering questions about following procedures -- Answering questions about public relations -- Answering questions about logical reasoning -- Practice reasoning and judgment questions -- Answers and explanations -- Chapter 9: Performing mathematical calculations -- Laying out basic rules and reminders -- Working with units of measurement -- Parts of the whole: breaking down common math concepts -- Piecing together fractions -- Gimme tenths! Working with decimals -- Out of 100: using percentages -- Solving algebraic equations -- Keeping the balance: basic algebraic equations -- You've go the power! Properties of exponents -- Coming to terms with FOIL: multiplying binomials -- Comparing things with fractions: ratios and proportions -- Shaping up your geometry skills -- Making sense of word problems -- Practice mathematics problems -- Answers and explanations -- Chapter 10: Mechanical aptitude: knowing the nuts and bolts of machines -- Tinkering with tools -- Common handheld tools -- Forcible entry tools -- Mechanical devices -- Looking at levers -- Ramping up your effort with inclined planes -- Turning to wheels and axles -- Perusing pulleys -- Sinking your teeth into gears -- Stretching out with springs -- Sorting out screws -- Practice mechanical aptitude questions -- Answers and explanations -- Chapter 11: Acing the national firefighter selection inventory test -- Checking out what's on the NFSI -- Assessing your cognitive skills -- Testing your verbal comprehension -- Examining your verbal expression skills -- Appreciating problem sensitivity questions -- Applying deductive reasoning -- Drawing conclusions with inductive reasoning -- Making sense of information ordering -- Measuring mathematical reasoning -- Navigating number facility questions -- Showing off your personality attributes -- Evaluating your coping skills: stress tolerance -- Playing well with others: team orientation -- Looking at what gets you going: motivation/attitude -- Practice NFSI questions -- Answers and explanations -- Part 3: Demonstrating Physical, Mental, And Emotional Fitness With Interactive Tests -- Chapter 12: Show them what you can do: passing the physical exam -- Let's get physical: the whys and wherefores of physical exams -- Why you have to take a physical exam -- How a physical exam works -- Getting the lowdown on the local test -- Acing the physical exam: a closer look at a standardized PAT -- Before the test -- During the test -- Event 1: Dry hose deployment -- Event 2: Charged hose deployment -- Event 3: Halyard raise -- Event 4: Roof walk -- Event 5: Attic crawl -- Event 6: Ventilation exercise -- Event 7: Victim removal -- Event 8: Ladder removal/carry -- Event 9: Stair climb with hose -- Event 10: Crawling search -- Event 11: Stair climb with air bottles and hose hoist -- After the test -- Chapter 13: Acing your oral interview -- Preparing for the interview -- Putting your best self forward -- Knowing what to expect during the interview -- Answering typical interview questions -- Following up after the interview -- Chapter 14: Knowing what to expect during medical and psychological testing -- Understanding what happens during the medical exam -- Putting your heart to the test -- Catching your breath: lung tests -- Giving some fluids: blood and urine tests -- Checking your organs -- Now see here: examining eyes and ears -- Walk this way: monitoring muscular and skeletal disorders -- Getting a once over for glandular and gastrointestinal disorders -- Understanding what happens during the psychological exam -- Completing the personality questionnaire -- Interviewing with a psychologist -- Part 4: Practice Firefighter Exams -- Chapter 15: Practice exam 1 -- Chapter 16: Practice exam 1: Answers and explanations -- Chapter 17: Practice exam 2 -- Chapter 18: Practice exam 2: answers and explanations -- Chapter 19: Practice exam 3 -- Chapter 20: Practice exam 3: answers and explanations -- Chapter 21: Practice exam 4: National firefighter selection inventory (NFSI) -- Chapter 22: Practice exam 4: Answers and explanations -- Part 5: Part Of Tens -- Chapter 23: Ten ways to improve your chances of getting hired -- Be prepared -- Visit local fire departments -- Volunteer -- Maintain a clean background -- Enroll in some firefighting classes -- Identify where you want to work -- Apply at multiple locations -- Practice for perfection -- Take the exam more than once -- Stay focused -- Chapter 24: Ten things every firefighter should do -- Show respect for the job -- Demonstrate integrity -- Be a team player -- Check your gear -- Display leadership qualities -- Find a work/home balance -- Ask questions -- Respect your superiors -- Be flexible -- Have fun -- Appendix: Observations And Memory Exercises -- index