Firefighter Candidate Prep Guide

8/8/2019 Firefighter Candidate Prep Guide

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STUDY GUIDE

NAT IONAL FIREFIGHTER

Selec t ion Inventory


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Contents

Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................1

General Examination Information.................................................................................................................1

Examination Specifications..............................................................................................................................2

Number of Examination Questions.........................................................................................................2

Time Limit......................................................................................................................................................2

Tips for the Day of the Exam.........................................................................................................................3

Ten Basic Test Rules........................................................................................................................................3

General Strategies for Taking the National Firefighter Selection Inventory.......................................4

Instructions for Using the Answer Sheet ....................................................................................................6

Areas of Measurement ....................................................................................................................................7

Verbal Comprehension...............................................................................................................................7

Verbal Expression ........................................................................................................................................8

Problem Sensit ivity ......................................................................................................................................9

Deductive Reasoning................................................................................................................................10

Inductive Reasoning..................................................................................................................................11

Information Ordering...............................................................................................................................13

Mathematical Reasoning..........................................................................................................................13

Number Facility.........................................................................................................................................15

Strategies for Analyzing and Avoiding Errors..........................................................................................15

Personality At tributes...................................................................................................................................17

Stress Tolerance........................................................................................................................................18

Team Orientation.....................................................................................................................................18

Mot ivation/Attitude..................................................................................................................................18


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Copyright2001, 2004 I/O Solutions, Inc.All rights reserved.

1

Introduction

This NFSI Study Guidehas been developed tointroduce you to the National FirefighterSelection Inventory (NFSI). The examinationconsists of a series of multiple-choicequestions and rating scales designed to testimportant cognitive abilities and personalityattributes that are necessary for effective

job performance as a firefighter.

In developing the NFSI, a group of fireservice experts identified many of the tasksessential to the performance of the job of afirefighter. From these tasks, 11 essentialareas for entry-level testing weredetermined. These 11 areas are as follows:

Verbal comprehension Verbal expression Problem sensitivity Deductive reasoning Inductive reasoning Information ordering Mathematical reasoning Number facility Stress tolerance Team orientation Motivation/attitudeThese 11 test areas have been clustered orgrouped into two sections on the examination.The cognitive section, which includes 105items, consists of verbal comprehension,verbal expression, problem sensitivity,deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning,information ordering, mathematicalreasoning and number facility items. Thepersonality section, which includes 50 items,

consists of stress tolerance, team orientationand motivation/attitude.

The selection process for firefighters is verycompetitive, and higher scores on theentrance examination will increase your

chances of being hired. Although you arenot required to read or use this NFSI StudyGuide, we encourage you to do so. Themore you prepare for the test, the morelikely you are to improve your score.

General Examination Information

Objectives of the NFSI Study Guide:

1) To help you become acquaintedwit h the types of quest ionsincluded in the examination.

This NFSI Study Guidewill provide youwith a better understanding of thenature and format of questions that willappear on the NFSI. The examination isdesigned to measure your job-relevantcognitive abilities and personalityattributes. You will be tested on eightseparate cognitive abilities and threepersonality attributes. A definition ofeach of these areas and an explanationof how they apply to the job of anentry-level firefighter will be given in thisguide. In addit ion, sample test questionsare also provided in each measurementarea to give you a good idea of thetypes of questions to expect. Weencourage you to become acquaintedwith the different measurement areasand question formats that will appear onthe examination.

2) To inform you of the rulesgoverning the testing process.

This guide will provide you withinformation about what you will be

allowed to bring with you when youtake the examination. Also included inthis section is information about what isexpected of you and what you canexpect from the test proctors. It is agood idea to be aware of the testing


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rules before the day of the test so thatyou will not be distracted during theactual administration and can focus all ofyour efforts on doing well on theexamination.

3) To provide you wit h some generaltest -taking st rategies.

It is very important to pay closeattention to this section of the NFSIStudy Guide. The general test-takingstrategies presented can help to ensurethat you work as efficiently andeffectively as possible on theexamination. Following these general

test-taking strategies may help toimprove your overall score on theexamination.

4) To provide specific inst ructions forcompleting the examinat ionanswer sheet.

Because the examination is computer-scored, you will mark your answers ona computer scan sheet. If your answers

are not marked correctly on this answersheet, you will not receive credit forthem.

5) To provide you wit h inform at ionabout comm on test -taking errorsand st rategies for avoiding them.

This NFSI Study Guideexplains errorstypically made by test-takers in multiple-choice exams and includes an error-

analysis procedure to help youdetermine weaknesses in your test-taking behavior. Suggestions foravoiding the same errors are provided.

Examination Specifications

The NFSI is divided into the following twosections:

Section I: The following eight job-relatedcognitive abilities are tested in this section:

1. Verbal comprehension2. Verbal expression3. Problem sensitivity4. Deductive reasoning5. Inductive reasoning6. Information ordering7. Mathematical reasoning8. Number facility

Section II: The following three job-relatedpersonality attributes are tested in thissection:

1. Stress tolerance2. Team orientation3. Motivation/attitude

Number of Examination Questions

As indicated previously, the 11 test areashave been clustered or grouped into twosections on the examination. The cognitivesection includes 105 questions that willcontribute to your total score. Your scoreon the personality component will becomputed from your responses to anadditional 50 items.

Time Limit

The time allowed for you to work on theNFSI is two and a half (2.5) hours.


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Tips for the Day of the Exam

Preparing for the examination.You will increase your chances ofobtaining your best score if you spend

some time preparing for theexamination. This includes reading thisNFSI Study Guide, finding out as much aspossible about the examination ahead oftime, trying to avoid anxiety about theexamination and using good test-takingstrategies.

Your physical well-being. Get a goodnights sleep before the examination.Try to ensure that you are in the best

possible physical and mental conditionon the day of the examination.

Confidence. The more confident youare in your abilities, the more likely youare to do well on the examination. Tryto stay focused on the examination sothat you dont lose your place or readsentences multiple times. You want totake control of the examination byfeeling confident in your skills. Focus on

becoming relaxed but concentrate onthe examination you are about to take.

Posit ive att it ude. This examination isan opportunity for you to show yourskills and abilities, and a positive attitudecan impact your test score. Thefollowing suggestions may help you tosee this examination in a positive light:

Look at this examination as achallenge but try not to get"stressed out" by thinking about ittoo much.

Remember that passing thisexamination is the first step in theselection process for entrance to

the fire department, but it is not theonly piece of information used tomake that decision.

By using this NFSI Study Guideandpracticing your strategies, you can

be more prepared for theexamination.

Ar rive early. Make all necessaryarrangements to ensure that you arriveearly at the test site. You may need tomake advance arrangements for suchthings as a ride to the test site orchildcare. It would also be wise toallow for more time due to potentialpoor weather or traffic delays. Give

yourself ample time to settle in at thetest site.

Ten Basic Test Rules

1. Promptness is mandatory foradmittance to the test on the date andtime scheduled.

2. Photo identification is mandatory foradmittance to the test.

3. You must bring the following supplies tothe test:

Two sharpened #2 pencils An eraser A watchNo other supplies will be permitted atthe test site. Calculators and electronicspelling devices will NOT be allowed at

the test site.

4. Beepers/portable phones and othercommunication devices will not bepermitted during testing. If you chooseto use an unauthorized communication


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device, in violation of testing guidelines,your test will be collected andconsidered invalid.

5. Handbags, backpacks or other personalitems will be placed on the floor underyour work area (table/desk). You maynot open your handbag, backpack or anyother personal belongings during thetesting process. Food and beverageswill NOT be allowed at the test site.

6. Once you are seated for the test, youwill have access to restroom facilitiesonly if escorted by a proctor. Oncetesting begins, any time taken for this

purpose will be counted as test timeand will not be made up.

7. You will undergo the same standardizedprocedure as all other candidates withrespect to the testing process (e.g.,notification, instructions, etc.).

8. Due to the security measures that willbe in place, only authorized candidateswill be admitted to the test site.

9. All questions or concerns that ariseduring the testing process should bedirected to the appropriate designatedtest administration staff person(s).

10. It is strictly prohibited for you to leavethe test site with any test materials. Alltest materials supplied must be returnedbefore you exit the test site.

General St rategies for Takingthe National Firefighter SelectionInventory

Listen carefully. The testadministrator will provide you withcomplete instructions fortaking the examination.Be sure that you pay closeattention to all testinstructions. It is extremely importantthat you completely understand thedirections before the examinationbegins.

Ask questions. If there areinstructions that you do not understandor if something is not clear, please feelfree to ask the test administrator anyquestions that you may have before theexamination begins.

Note start and end t imes. Justbefore the test administrator begins theexamination, make a note of the startand end times for the examination.

Read each question carefully. Besure that you understand what thequestion requires of you.

Read for meaning. Dont get stuckon words or sentences you do notunderstand. You may be able to get themain idea from a sentence or paragraphwithout understanding the individualwords or the individual sentences.

Try to answer the questioncorrect ly before you look at t heanswer s given. If you know theanswer, compare it to the availablechoices and pick the choice closest inmeaning to the answer you have inmind.


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Answer easy quest ions first . It is

important that you answer the easyquestions first on this examination.By doing so, you will afford yourself

more time to spend on the difficultquestions if necessary. Seek outquestions you can answer. If there areparticular kinds of questions that youfeel most comfortable with, answerthose questions first. For example, ifyou are particularly good at verbalcomprehension, then find those itemsfirst and complete them.

Dont waste tim e on quest ions youcant do. If you are not able to answera question, then skip it. It is better toskip a difficult question than to spend alot of time on it and not be able tocomplete other examination questions.If time permits, you may be able toreturn to these items and evaluate themmore thoroughly.

Mark your examinat ion booklet .Mark in your examination booklet those

questions that you have skipped so thatyou are able to come back to them laterin the examination. Marking questionsthat you have skipped in your testbooklet will help to ensure that youhave answered all of the questions bythe time the examination period hasended.

Use a process of elim inat ion. If asituation presents itself where you are

unable to answer a question, use aprocess of elimination to narrow youroptions. First, eliminate any answersthat are clearly wrong. Then determinehow you feel about the remainingchoices. If you believe that some

answers are more correct than others,indicate that on your examinationbooklet. Later in the examination, youmay have an opportunity to come backto these questions and answer them

without having to read the entirepassage again.

Keep tr ack of t ime. It is importantthat you keep track of time so that youare able to pace yourself throughout theexamination. You do not want to runout of time and have unansweredquestions. Since the score on thecognitive portion of your examinationwill be based on the total number of

correct answers, you want to workboth quickly and efficiently. It is alsoimportant that you allow yourself a fewminutes of time to review your answersand also to provide your best guess onunanswered questions at the end of theexamination.

Remain calm. It is important that youremain calm throughout thisexamination so that you are able to workmost effectively. Dont allow yourself tobecome nervous or confused by a fewdifficult or challenging questions. Theremay be times when you are not going toknow the answer, and neither will otherindividuals taking the examination. Ifyou believe that you have not done wellon any particular type of question, tryto remain calm and focus on doing yourbest for the rest of the examination.

Ext ra time. If you finish theexamination before the time period isover, review your answers and makeany changes that are necessary. Alsomake sure that you have marked youranswers on the answer sheet correctly.


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question 37 on the answer sheet.Periodically check yourself to make surethat your answers are in the correctspaces.

There are five alternatives (A, B, C, Dand E) listed on the answer sheet foreach question. Please be sure that youmark your answer in the appropriatecolumn.

Areas of Measurement

Cognitive Abilit y Ar eas

The information presented in this section of

the NFSI Study Guidewill assist you inbecoming familiar with the structure of thecognitive abilities section of theexamination. The eight cognitive abilitiesmeasured are verbal comprehension, verbalexpression, problem sensitivity, deductivereasoning, inductive reasoning, informationordering, mathematical reasoning, andnumber facility. A brief definit ion of eachcognitive ability is presented along withsample questions to orient you to thedifferent question formats.

It is important to note that all the questionspresented in this area are designed tomeasure your basic cognitive abilities. Whilethese questions are presented using firefightingand emergency medical scenarios,no prior knowledge of firefightingor emergency medical services isrequired to answer any question onthis examination. Some questions will

present specific firefighting and EMTprocedures. You should answer all questions inthis section solely on the basis of the informationpresented in the question. Further, it shouldbe noted that procedures and definitionscontained in test questions are not

necessarily those of any particular firedepartment.

Following is the format that will be used tofamiliarize you with the areas ofmeasurement on the examination.

Definition

In this section, each cognitive ability isdefined, and you are provided withexamples of how it applies to the job of anentry-level firefighter.

Sample Questions

In each of the cognitive ability areas, twosample questions are given to illustrate thetypes of questions that may appear on theexamination. Each question is designed toreflect some aspect of the firefighterposition. By answering the sampleexamination questions, you can assess yourunderstanding of the information.

Verbal Com prehension

Definition

Verbal comprehension is the ability tounderstand language, either written or spoken.This ability involves both the understandingof individual words as well as patterns ofwords (sentences and phrases). This is theability to hear a description of an event andunderstand what happened. This is also theability to read a sentence or series ofsentences and understand the meaning. Thisability might be used in reading narrativematerial such as an incident report or thefire safety code, listening to descriptions ofevents, places or people, receiving radiocommunications, or following verbal workorders.


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Sample Questions

Use the information in the followingpassage to answer questions 1-2.

Engine 14 was dispatched at 6:02 a.m. toassist an elderly woman who was complainingof chest pains. The firefighters arrived at1704 W. Sunnyvale, #2N at approximately6:09 a.m. Firefighter Heine and Chambersexited the engine immediately andapproached the apartment building. WhenChambers knocked on the door, a man andwoman greeted her. The man identifiedhimself as Mr. Miyamoto. The woman saidthat she was a neighbor. Mr. Miyamoto led

the firefighters through the entry hall intothe living room where Mrs. Miyamoto waslying on the sofa. The neighbor walkedthrough the study and into the kitchen toget Mrs. Miyamoto a glass of water. Mrs.Miyamoto appeared pale and was obviouslyin pain. Both firefighters knew Mrs.Miyamoto. This was the third time they hadresponded to a 911 call at this address. Thefirst two calls had been for heart-relatedproblems.

Firefighter Heine greeted Mrs. Miyamotoand asked her specific questions concerningher current condition. Mrs. Miyamoto wasalert and answered the questions clearly.Mrs. Miyamoto also exhibited a normalspeech pattern, and her breathing wasnormal in both rate and depth. FirefighterHeine took Mrs. Miyamotos pulse: 110 andweak. Her wrist was warm and damp.

Firefighter Heine decided that Mrs.

Miyamoto should be transported to thehospital immediately. She was given oxygen,lifted onto a gurney and wheeled out of theapartment to an ambulance waiting at thecurb. The ambulance departed for thehospital at 6:22 a.m. and arrived at 6:31 a.m.

Mr. Miyamoto accompanied his wife. Thefirefighters gathered their equipment andlocked the door to the apartment. Mrs.Miyamotos chest pains were diagnosed asangina. She was treated and released from

the hospital three hours later.1. The room where Mrs. Miyamoto wasfound by firefighters was the

___________.

a) entry hallb) living roomc) kitchend) bedroome) study

2. Mrs. Miyamoto arrived at the hospital at___________________.

a) 6:02 a.m.b) 6:09 a.m.c) 6:22 a.m.d) 6:30 a.m.e) 6:31 a.m.The answers to questions 1 and 2 are asfollows:

1. b2. e

The answers to questions 1 and 2 are takendirectly from the descriptive scenario. If youhave trouble determining the correctanswer, carefullyreread the passage for clues.

Verbal Expression

Definition

Verbal expression is defined as the ability touse language (either verbal or written) tocommunicate information or ideas to otherpeople. These other people might includeother firefighters, fire officers, witnesses,


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arson suspects, fire victims or any individualwith whom the firefighter might come intocontact. This ability includes vocabulary,knowledge of distinctions among words,and knowledge of grammar and the way

that words are ordered.

Sample Questions

For question 3, please choose theappropriate word or phrase to completethe following sentences

3. As soon as they arrived, the firefightersdecided to _______________ unmediatedfirefighting maneuvers.

a) beginb) beganc) had begand) had begune) did beginFor question 4, identify which one of theunderlined words is spelled incorrect ly.

4. The lungs and respiratory tract are morevulnerable to injury than any other bodyarea. Gases asociated with fires aredangerous and must not be inhaled.

a) respiratoryb) vulnerablec) asociatedd) dangerouse) inhaled

The answers to sample questions 3 and 4are as follows:

3. a4. c

Questions 3 and 4 are measuring onesability to use language to communicateinformation or ideas to other people.Based on the information provided for youin the sentence, you must answer questions3 and 4 using the alternative that makes themost sense and gives the correct meaningto the sentenceor choose the word that isspelled incorrectly. If you are having troubleanswering these questions, refer toinformation on basic grammar and spelling.

Problem Sensit ivit y

Definition

Problem sensitivity is the ability torecognize or identify the existence ofproblems. It involves both the recognitionof the problem as a whole and the elementsof the problem. Problem sensitivity does

not include the ability to solve the problem,only the ability to identify or recognize it.An example might be the identification ofinterpersonal conflict within thestationhouse.

Sample Questions

Firefighter Perez has been observing thebehavior and attitude of Firefighter Swartz,

the new man recently assigned to thecompany. Perez has noticed that Swartz isusually cheerful and happy but on occasionwill appear to be restless and nervous.Perez attributed the mood swings toproblems at home but began to wonder


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when Swartz's behavior started to varyduring the shift. One day, when Swartz wasacting particularly restless, Perez askedSwartz if everything was okay in hispersonal life. Swartz told Perez to mind his

own business. Several hours later, Swartz,appearing much more relaxed, approachedPerez and apologized for being rude. Heassured Perez that everything was okay athome and that there were no problemswhatsoever. Perez was not convinced.

5. Based on the information given in theparagraph, if Swartz were having a problem,it would most likely be

_______________.

a) financialb) health-relatedc) drug-relatedd) maritale) related to his children

Firefighters were called to a fire at a singlefamily dwelling at 4901 Damen Avenue. Thecause of the fire was a gas oven leak. Oneof the homeowners, in her mid-forties,spoke with Firefighter Dellevin about theincident. Her husband refused to comment.While preparing dinner for her family, thestove began to sputter and subsequentlyignited. Firefighter Dellevin recorded thisinformation in her report. An area of theincident report requires firefighters to notethe condition of all victims. Dellevin noticedthat the woman had some old bruises alongwith what appeared to be recent bruisingon her neck and legs. She asked the womanhow she received these bruises, and thewoman nervously replied that she had fallenwhile bike riding earlier that day. Dellevinwas not convinced that this was the reasonfor the bruises.

6. Based on the information given in theparagraph, if the woman were having aproblem, it would most likely be

________.

a) drugsb) problems with bike ridingc) problems with her childrend) job stresse) domestic violence

The answers to questions 5 and 6 are asfollows:

5. c6. e

The answers to questions 5 and 6 are basedon ones ability to identify the elements of aproblem situation. Information is presentedin each passage to give you clues about theproblem situation. For example, in question5, specific information about Perezs erraticchange in mood and attitude are clues thathe may be using drugs. In question 6, thewoman does not give a credible explanationof her injuries and also appears nervous,potentially suggesting domestic violence.

Deductive Reasoning

Definition

Deductive reasoning is the ability to applygeneral rules or regulations to specificsituations or to proceed from statedprinciples to logical conclusions. Anexample might be the decision to use one

chemical or mechanical fire-extinguishingagent over another or one medication overanother.


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Sample Questions

The following is a list of the six mostcommon categories of medications that arerelevant to patient care:

Analgesics:prescribed for temporary painrelief, fever control and reduction ofinflammation.

Anti-arrhythmics: prescribed for thetreatment of heart rhythm disorders.

Anti-convulsants: prescribed for preventionand control of seizures.

Anti-diabetic agents: prescribed to helpmaintain healthy blood-sugar levels inhypoglycemic (low blood sugar) patientsand to provide insulin which allows thebody to regulate the bodys metabolism ofsugar.

Anti-hypertensives: prescribed for thereduction of high blood pressure by relaxingthe sympathetic nervous system, which inturn relaxes the walls of the arteries and

arterioles.

Bronchodilators: prescribed to provide reliefof bronchial asthma and other allergiesaffecting the respiratory system by relaxingthe smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes.

7. According to the medications describedabove, if a person were having troublebreathing due to dust and pollen, whatcategory of medication would be

prescribed?

a) analgesicsb) anti-arrhythimicsc) anti-convulsantsd) anti-hypertensives

e) bronchodilators8. On a windy fall day, a child playing atrecess sprains her right ankle. The schoolnurse would prescribe ______________to treat the child.

a) analgesicsb) anti-arrhythmicsc) anti-convulsantsd) anti-hypertensivese) bronchodilators


7. e

8. aQuestions 7 and 8 are dependent upondistinct information provided in the passageabout the six most common categories ofmedications relevant to patient care, whichare used to treat very specific medicalsymptoms. You are asked to apply yourknowledge of medications from the passageand apply it to a specific situation. Forexample, in question 7, the only medicationdescribed that treats allergies is

bronchodilators. If you are having troubleanswering these questions, please rereadthe passage more carefully, focusing on thetype of medication and the situations whereit would be used.

Inductive Reasoning

Definition

Inductive reasoning is the ability to find arule or concept that fits the situation. Italso involves understanding how a string ofevents might be connected. One example ofthis ability is determining the point of origin


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of a fire or finding repeated violations of afire code during building inspections.

Sample Questions

A drunk driver barreling down WashingtonStreet runs through a four-way stopintersection and strikes the side of a minivantraveling through the intersection, pushing itinto a car parked on the side of the street.Four people call 911. The area dispatchcenter alerts police, emergency medicalservice, and fire-rescue units simultaneously.

Firefighters arrive on the scene andproceed to assess the situation. They

examine the scene, the vehicles and theirdrivers. The drunk driver is sitting in hercar holding her forehead, and blood isoozing through her fingers. A man istrapped in the minivan that was hitbroadside. He was not wearing a seatbelt.He appears to be unconscious, but there isno apparent bleeding. A firefighterdetermines that there is some swelling inhis chest and abdomen, and from the angleof his left arm, it appears that it is broken.

The firefighter also suspects possibleinternal injuries. The man must be removedfrom the minivan immediately.

A firefighter gains access to the minivanthrough a side door and begins to assessthe condition of the man more closely.After initial stabilization, the firefightercovers him with a blanket to protect himfrom breaking glass while two otherfirefighters begin to cut out the windshield.After the man is safely extricated from the

minivan through the windshield, he istransported to the local trauma center forfurther assessment and treatment of hisinjuries.

The drunk driver also receives attention.

Other firefighters assess her injuries andgeneral physical condition. Other than thewound on her forehead, there are noapparent injuries. However, one pupil isdilated. The firefighter suspects this woman

has suffered a serious head injury. She isimmediately placed on a gurney andtransported to the trauma center.

9. Most likely, what injury of the minivandriver indicates internal bleeding?

a) slurred speechb) one dilated pupilc) swelling of the abdomend) broken lege) cut on forehead10.An appropriate title for this passage is:a) Multiple-Vehicle Car Accidentsb) Vehicle Rescue Proceduresc) How to Remove a Minivan Windshieldd) Accident Victim Assessment at the

Scene of an Emergencye) The Consequences of Drinking and

Driving


9. c10. d

As stated previously, inductive reasoning isthe ability to find a rule or concept that fitsthe situation and involves understandinghow a string of events might be connected.In question 9, information was presented onthe injuries sustained by the minivan driver,

which gives you some clue as to wherethose injuries came from.

Question 10 asks that you look at all of theinformation presented and determine themain point or theme of the passage. It may


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be valuable to re-read the passage todetermine the main theme. Re-reading theanswers to the questions and thinking aboutthe passage may also give you some insightinto the main theme.

Inform at ion Or der ing

Definition

Information ordering is the ability to applyrules to a situation for the purpose ofputting the information in the best or mostappropriate sequence. In order to use thisability, rules or instructions must exist forthe person to know the correct order ofinformation. Information ordering involvesthe application of specific sequences orprocedures to a given situation. An exampleof the use of this ability might be when afirefighter is deciding which set ofprocedures to follow first and which tofollow thereafter.

Sample Questions

Firefighters are not only taught how toextinguish fires, they are also taught how totreat those injured in a fire. It is importantthat they learn to treat serious injuries suchas burns, broken bones, cuts and abrasions,heart failure, and breathing problems.Because these medical emergencies arelikely to occur at the site of a fire, basic firstaid is an essential part of the job.Surprisingly, firefighters do not commonly

deal with burns. The more common injuriesat a fire site involve respiratory problems,heart failure and shock.

If an individual has no heartbeat or pulse, afirefighter should first remove the victim

from the path of the fire and then initiateCPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Oncea victims heartbeat and breathing arerestored, other injuries can be treated.Degrees of seriousness in descending order

are bleeding wounds, shock and brokenbones. Minor cuts and abrasions would, ofcourse, have the lowest priority.

11.Of the conditions listed below, whichwould be the one that should be treatedlast?

a) Deep bleeding woundb) Heart failurec) Sprained ankled) Shocke) Minor cuts12. Determine the order in which youwould treat the injuries listed in question11.

a) e, b, c, a, cb) b, a, d, c, ec) c, b, d, a, e,d) a, b, e, d, ce) d, a, b, e, c


11.e12.bQuestions 11 and 12 address the order oftreatment for medical conditions based oninformation presented in the passage. Itmay be helpful to reread the passage andwrite down the order of the medical

conditions as they are presented to you.


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Mathemat ical Reasoning

Definition

Mathematical reasoning is the ability to

reason through mathematical problems inorder to determine appropriate operationsthat can be performed to solve them. Anexample of mathematical reasoning isconsidering the volume and kind of materialsin a room to determine the amount of timethe room would take to burn.

Sample Questions

13. Use the table below to determine whichstatement most accurately describes therelationship between the hose length and thenumber of firefighters needed to carry a hose.

Hose Length Number of FirefightersNeeded to Carr y the Hose

40 feet 1

80 feet 2

120 feet 3

160 feet 4

a) As the hose length is increased by 40feet, the number of firefighters neededto carry it is doubled.

b) As the hose length is increased by 40feet, the number of firefighters neededto carry it is tripled.

c) The longer the hose, the fewer thenumber of firefighters needed to carryit.

d) As the hose length is increased, oneaddit ional person is needed for each 40-foot increase.

e) as the hose length is decreased, oneadditional person is needed for each 40foot decrease

14.While training to be a firefighter,candidates are tested on their physicalability to run to the top of a simulatedburning building while carrying a 150-foot fire hose and wearing an oxygen

tank. Using the following table,determine the statement that mostaccurately describes the relationshipbetween the number of floors and thetime needed to reach them.

Tim e Num ber of Floors

3.3 seconds 1

5.3 seconds 2

7.3 seconds 3

9.3 seconds 4

a) As the time is increased by twoseconds, the number of floors reachedis doubled.

b) As the time is increased by twoseconds, the number of floors reachedis tr ipled.

c) As the time is increased by twoseconds, the number of floors reachedis decreased.

d) The longer the time, the fewer floorsclimbed.

e) The longer the time, the more floorsclimbed.


13. d14. e

Questions 13 and 14 are asking for the

identification of specific quantitativepatterns in the information provided. If youhad trouble answering these questionscorrectly, reread each passage and identifythose mathematical patterns.


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Number Facility

Definition

Number facility is the ability to manipulatenumbers in numerical operations such asaddition, subtraction, division andmultiplication. This ability also involves thespeed and accuracy of computation. Anexample is determining the size of a holeneeded to ventilate a burning building.

Sample Questions

15.There is no apparent means of entryinto a smoke-filled room. The firefighteruses a hatchet to make a 5-foot by 6-footopening in the wall. How large is theopening?

a) 10 sq. ft.b) 15 sq. ft.c) 20 sq. ft.d) 25 sq. ft.e) 30 sq. ft.16.

If the average height of a story in aresidential apartment building is 13 feet,

what size ladder is needed to reach the topfloor of a six-story apartment building?

a) 52 ft.b) 65 ft.c) 78 ft.d) 91 ft.e) 104 ft.


15. e16. c

Both questions 15 and 16 rely on yourknowledge of and accuracy withcomputation, specifically multiplication. Ifyou are having difficulty answering thesequestions, refer to information on basiccomputation such as addition, subtraction,division and multiplication.

St rategies for Analyzing and

Avoiding ErrorsSix common explanations for choosingincorrect responses are presented to youbelow, along with suggestions for avoidingthese errors. Reading through this sectioncarefully can help you identify and correctany major weaknesses in your test-takingbehavior. Sample questions have beenpresented to you in this guide so that youmay practice avoiding these errors.

1. Answer sheet marking errors.

Reason: You may have missed aquestion because you skipped it andfailed to come back to it later.

Suggestion: Carefully mark skippedquestions in your examination bookletand remember to go back to thembefore the end of the examination

period.


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Reason: You may have lost track ofthe time and were unaware that theexamination period was about to endbefore you could mark any remainingunanswered questions.

Suggestion: Check your watch oftenso that you can keep track of how muchtime you have left . Leave ten minutes atthe end of the examination to go backto any unanswered questions andcomplete them.

Reason: You may have accidentallymarked the wrong answer.

Suggestion: Periodically glance back atyour answer sheet to be sure that youare marking your answers in theappropriate item number and column.

2. Guessing er rors.

Reason: You may have been forced tomake guesses for questions at the endof the examination because you spenttoo much time working on difficultquestions, rather than skipping them andsaving them for later.

Suggestion: If you did skip difficultquestions, it may be because you failedto narrow down the number ofalternatives in the question. Be sure toeliminate as many alternatives aspossible and choose the alternative thatmakes the most sense to you.

3. Misreading a quest ion or answer .

Reason: This may occur because youoverlooked a key word or phrase.

Suggestion: When choosing ananswer, underline key words andphrases that stand out. Once you have

underlined the key words and phrases,check the details of the possible answerswith the details you underlined, one-by-one. Always keep in mind that you arelooking for the best possible answerwith

the most accurate details. Read thequestions and answers quickly andthoroughly but try to avoid rushing.

4. Not knowing the meaning of keywords.

Reason: You may not understand themeaning of some of the words in asentence or passage.

Suggestion: When you come to an

unfamiliar word, reread the sentence todetermine its general, overall meaning.This is known as "reading for meaning."The meaning of the unfamiliar wordshould become clearer as you begin tounderstand the phrases and ideas thatsurround it.

5. Answers that "look" good.

Reason: An incorrect answer maycontain an exact phrase from the

original question.

Suggestion: Be cautious of answerscontaining exact words or phrases fromthe question. This may be a distracterused to divert you from the correctanswer.


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Reason: An incorrect answer mayoverstate information that waspresented in the question. For example,if the question says, Some incidents,the incorrect answers may say, All

incidentsSuggestion: Stick strictly to the factsdescribed in the examination questionitself. Dont be drawn to answers thatstretch or exaggerate these facts orrules. This is the time to watch out forwords such as only, never, always,whenever, all, etc.

6. You may not know why the answeroption is incorr ect .

Reason: Sometimes the reason ananswer option is incorrect may not beobvious.

Suggestion: If you are not certain whysome answer options are consideredwrong, review the descriptive passagemore thoroughly and refer to this studyguide for tips.

Other suggestions:

Have an answer in mind before youlook over the alternatives. This willmake you less likely to choose ananswer that just looks good.

Be cautious of choosing answersbased on common sense or previousknowledge and experience. Choosean answer based ONLY on thematerial presented in theexamination question itself.

Personality Attributes

The information presented inthis section of the NFSI Study Guidewill assist you in becoming familiar

with the structure of the personalityattributes section of the examination. Thethree personality attributes measured arestress tolerance, team orientation andmotivation/attitude. A brief definition of

each personality attribute is presented alongwith sample statements to orient you to thedifferent formats.

The items appearing in this section aresignificantly different from the questionsappearing in the cognitive ability section interms of design and your responserequirements. It is important to note that thestatements in this section are not scored interms of correct or incorrect answers.

These items are presented as a series ofstatements for you to respond to bymarking the answer that best reflects youropinion. The following five-point scaleshould be used to indicate your response toeach statement presented:

1 - Strongly Agree2 - Agree3 - Not sure4 - Disagree

5 - Strongly Disagree

Your response should be an indication ofhow you feel about the statement. Youshould respond honestly to each statement.

Definitions for Personality Attributes

In this section, each personality attribute isdefined and you are provided with examples

of how the ability applies to the job of anentry-level firefighter.


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Sample Personality Attribute Statement s

Sample statements are given to illustratethe types of statements that may appear onthis section of the examination. Record

your response to each statement bymarking the number on the scale providedthat best represents your opinion.

St ress Tolerance

Definition

Stress tolerance is defined as the ability todeal with the on-the-job stressors of workas a firefighter. The work that a firefighterdoes can be extremely stressful because itcan be dangerous and uncertain. Thus,firefighters must be able to cope with thesestressors in a productive and effective wayso that their work does not suffer.

Sample Statements

1. I often feel nervous when a deadlineapproaches.

2.

I try to plan my time wisely so that Idont feel so anxious and stressed3. Sometimes I set expectations for myself

that are unreasonable.4. I feel relaxed and confident when I am in

control of a situation.

Team O r ientationDefinition

Team orientation is defined as the ability to

function within the team dynamic of thefirefighter position and to work effectivelywith others.

Sample Statements

1. I feel responsible for myself as well asthe team.

2. Firefighters must prove themselves tome before I will trust them.

3. I tend to be competitive in a teamenvironment.

4. Working in teams allows for theexpression of different ideas.

Motivation/Attitude

Definition

Motivation/attitude is defined as the abilityand desire to carry out the duties of a

firefighter to the best of one's ability and tostrive to maintain a positive attitude aboutthe job.

Sample Statements

1. I usually work to get what I want.2. I dont always speak my mind when

speaking with others.3. I give up easily.4. I always at least try to be nice.

Good luck on the exam!


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