Reading Comprehension for Firefighter Exam Practice Problems

Possible Questions

Here is one sample question of each type based on the passage you just read. Your questions may be very different, but these will give you an idea of the kinds of questions that could be asked.

1. Detail question: According to the passage, which of the following could happen "overnight"?
   1. The building may be burned down.
   2. The firehouse may become unmanageable.
   3. A management crisis might erupt.
   4. The windows may all be broken.
2. Main idea question: Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
   1. Even minor acts of disrespect can lead to
   major problems.
   2. Broken windows must be repaired immediately.
   3. People shouldn't be disrespectful to their superiors.
   4. House-watch procedures must be taken seriously.
3. Inference question: With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?
   1. The broken window theory is inadequate.
   2. Managers need to know how to handle a crisis.
   3. Firefighters are lazy.
   4. People will get away with as much as they can.
4. Vocabulary question: In the first paragraph, condoned most nearly means
   1. punished.
   2. overlooked.
   3. condemned.
   4. applauded.

Answers

1. c.
2. a.
3. d.
4. b.

If English Is Not Your First Language

When nonnative speakers of English have trouble with reading comprehension tests, it's often because they lack the cultural, linguistic, and historical frame of reference that native speakers have. People who have not lived in or been educated in the United States often don't have the background information that comes from reading American newspapers, magazines, and textbooks.

A second problem for nonnative English speakers is the difficulty in recognizing vocabulary and idioms (expressions like "chewing the fat") that assist comprehension. To read with good understanding, it is important to have an immediate grasp of as many words as possible in the text. Test takers need to be able to recognize vocabulary and idioms immediately so that the ideas those words express are clear.

The Long View

Read newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals that deal with current events and matters of local, state, and national importance. Pay special attention to articles related to the career you want to pursue.

Be alert to new or unfamiliar vocabulary or terms that occur frequently in the popular press. Use a highlighter to mark new or unfamiliar words as you read. Keep a list of those words and their definitions. Review them for 15 minutes each day. At first, you may find yourself looking up a lot of words, but don't be frustrated—you will look up fewer and fewer as your vocabulary expands.

During the Test

When you are taking the test, make a picture in your mind of the situation being described in the passage. Ask yourself, "What did the writer mainly want me to think about this subject?"

Locate and underline the topic sentence that contains the main idea of the passage. Remember that the topic sentence—if there is one—may not always be the first sentence. If there doesn't seem to be one, try to determine what idea summarizes the whole passage.