FCTC Verbal Reasoning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A firefighter reads: 'Occupants should be evacuated via the nearest stairwell unless smoke is present, in which case an alternate exit must be used.' The primary stairwell has smoke. What should the firefighter do?
- Use the primary stairwell anyway
- Find an alternate exit (Correct answer)
- Wait for smoke to clear before evacuating
- Evacuate only after calling dispatch
Correct answer: Find an alternate exit
The passage explicitly states that if smoke is present, an alternate exit must be used.
Question 2: Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'MITIGATE'?
- Reduce
- Alleviate
- Intensify (Correct answer)
- Evaluate
Correct answer: Intensify
Mitigate means to lessen or reduce harm; its antonym is intensify, meaning to increase or worsen.
Question 3: Read the sentence: 'The incident commander, having assessed the structural integrity, deemed it PRUDENT to withdraw crews.' What does PRUDENT most nearly mean?
- Hasty
- Wise and cautious (Correct answer)
- Mandatory
- Controversial
Correct answer: Wise and cautious
Prudent means acting with sound judgment and caution, especially regarding risk.
Question 4: A policy states: 'All personnel must complete training before operating equipment UNLESS a supervisor grants a documented exemption.' An untrained firefighter needs to use equipment and no supervisor is present. What should happen?
- The firefighter may operate the equipment in an emergency
- The firefighter must not operate the equipment (Correct answer)
- A peer can grant the exemption verbally
- The policy does not apply in the field
Correct answer: The firefighter must not operate the equipment
Without a supervisor present to grant a documented exemption, the policy requires training before operation.
Question 5: Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The department issued a ______ warning, urging residents to remain indoors due to poor air quality.'
- Belated
- Precautionary (Correct answer)
- Perfunctory
- Ambiguous
Correct answer: Precautionary
Precautionary means taken as a preventive measure, which fits a warning urging people to stay indoors for safety.
Question 6: A report states: 'Firefighter injuries PREDOMINANTLY occur during overhaul operations.' What does PREDOMINANTLY mean?
- Exclusively
- Rarely
- Mainly or most often (Correct answer)
- Unexpectedly
Correct answer: Mainly or most often
Predominantly means mainly or for the most part, indicating overhaul is the most common phase for injuries.
Question 7: Which sentence uses the word 'ENSURE' correctly?
- The captain ensured the building was on fire.
- The captain ensured that all personnel wore PPE. (Correct answer)
- The captain ensured to the ladder truck.
- The captain was ensured of the situation.
Correct answer: The captain ensured that all personnel wore PPE.
Ensure means to make certain something happens, so ensuring that all personnel wore PPE is the correct usage.
FCTC Verbal Reasoning 4
A firefighter reads: 'Occupants should be evacuated via the nearest stairwell unless smoke is present, in which case an alternate exit must be used.' The primary stairwell has smoke.
What should the firefighter do?