Table of Contents
Before You Begin vi
How to Use This Book vi
Preparing for the Firefighter Exam vii
Six Test-Day Strategies viii
Tips for Test Takers ix
How This Book Is Organized x
Special Study Features xi
More for You from Peterson's xi
You're Well on Your Way to Success xi
Part I Firefighting Basics
1 What Firefighters Do 3
The Nature of the Work 3
Employment Outlook 4
Places of Employment 4
Essential Job Tasks of Firefighters 5
Working Conditions 11
First Responder and Emergency Medical Services 12
Training and Advancement 21
Firefighting in the Twenty-First Century 22
Earnings 23
Related Occupations 24
Additional Information 24
Summing It Up 26
2 Firefighter Screening Process 27
Notice of Examination 27
The Application 31
Written Exam Contents 32
Medical Standards 34
Defining Fitness 39
Tips for Staying Fit 43
Physical Ability Tests 46
The Candidate Physical Ability Test™ 48
Personality Tests and Psychological Evaluations 51
The Interview 53
Summing It Up 57
Part II Diagnosing Your Strengths and Weaknessess
3 The Diagnostic Test 61
Introduction to the Diagnostic Test 61
Diagnostic Test Answer Sheet 63
Diagnostic Test 65
Answer Key and Explanations 82
Diagnostic Test Assessment Grid 88
Part III Test Preparation
4 Reading Comprehension 91
About Reading Comprehension Questions 91
Sample Reading Program 92
Five Common Types of Reading Comprehension Questions 93
Tackling Reading Comprehension Questions 93
Summing It Up 100
Exercise 1 Reading Comprehension 101
Exercise 2 Reading Comprehension 106
Answer Keys and Explanations 112
5 Reasoning and Judgment 115
What Are Reasoning and Judgment Questions? 115
Reasoning and Judgment Strategies 116
Guided Practice: Reasoning and Judgment 117
Summing It Up 122
Exercise: Reasoning and Judgment 123
Answer Key and Explanations 130
6 Spatial Orientation 135
What Do Spatial Orientation Questions Measure? 135
Two Tips for Answering Spatial Orientation Questions 136
Guided Practice: Spatial Orientation 137
Summing It Up 141
Exercise: Spatial Orientation 142
Answer Key and Explanations 147
7 Observation and Memory 149
How Are Observation and Memory Tested? 149
Diagrams and Images: Consider the Big Picture 150
Five Elements to Look for in Diagrams and Images 150
Observation and Memory Guided Practice: Diagrams and Images 151
Reading Passages: Focus on the Details 155
Observation and Memory Guided Practice: Reading Passages 155
Summing It Up 159
Observation and Memory Practice: Exercises, Answer Keys, and Explanations 160
8 Mechanical Reasoning 173
What Do Mechanical Reasoning Questions Measure? 173
Guided Practice: Mechanical Reasoning 174
Summing It Up 177
Exercise: Mechanical Reasoning 178
Answer Key and Explanations 187
9 Math 191
Common Math Subjects Covered on the Exam 191
Essential Math Concepts 192
Fractions 197
Percentages 201
Unit Conversions 204
Algebraic Equations 207
Geometry 209
Word Problems 213
Summing It Up 218
Formula Sheet 219
Exercise: Math Practice 221
Answer Key and Explanations 225
Part IV Three Practice Tests
Practice Tests for the Firefighter Exam 231
Preparing to Take the Practice Tests 231
Practice Test 1 235
Practice Test 1 Answer Sheet 233
Answer Key and Explanations 263
Practice Test 2 275
Practice Test 2 Answer Sheet 273
Answer Key and Explanations 299
Practice Test 3 311
Practice Test 3 Answer Sheet 309
Answer Key and Explanations 335
Part V Appendixes
Appendix A Fire Terminology 347
Appendix B Wildland Firefighting 353
