Free NFST Test Writing and Grammar Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences, appropriate for an official incident report, is grammatically correct and uses the proper capitalization?
- Upon arrival, captain Smith directed the crew to deploy a 2-inch attack line to the second floor.
- Upon arrival, Captain Smith directed the crew to deploy a 2-inch attack line to the second floor. (Correct answer)
- Upon arrival, Captain Smith directed the Crew to deploy a 2-inch attack line to the second floor.
- upon arrival, Captain smith directed the crew to deploy a 2-inch attack line to the second floor.
Correct answer: Upon arrival, Captain Smith directed the crew to deploy a 2-inch attack line to the second floor.
This sentence is correct because 'Captain Smith' is a formal title used before a name and must be capitalized. The first word of the sentence, 'Upon', is also correctly capitalized. Other words like 'crew' and 'floor' are common nouns and should not be capitalized in this context.
Question 2: A firefighter is writing a narrative for an incident report. Which of the following sentences is the clearest, most concise, and best example of objective, factual language?
- It seemed like the fire had been burning for a very long time before we got there.
- We made an aggressive interior attack on the terrifying blaze that was consuming the structure.
- Upon arrival at 04:32, Engine 5 reported heavy smoke showing from the bravo side of a two-story residence. (Correct answer)
- The fire was obviously suspicious, and it looked like the homeowner was not telling the whole truth.
Correct answer: Upon arrival at 04:32, Engine 5 reported heavy smoke showing from the bravo side of a two-story residence.
This sentence is the best choice because it is objective, specific, and avoids subjective or emotional language. It includes precise details like the time, unit designation, conditions observed, and building description, which are crucial for a formal report.
Question 3: Read the following sentence: 'Each of the firefighters ______ required to complete their daily equipment checks.' Which word correctly completes the sentence?
- are
- were
- is (Correct answer)
- have been
Correct answer: is
The subject of the sentence is 'Each,' which is a singular pronoun. Therefore, it requires the singular verb 'is.' The prepositional phrase 'of the firefighters' does not change the fact that the subject is singular.
Question 4: You are proofreading a colleague's report, which contains the following sentence: 'After extinguishing the fire the crew began overhaul operations.' What correction is needed?
- Change 'began' to 'begun'.
- Place a comma after 'fire'. (Correct answer)
- Capitalize 'overhaul operations'.
- No change is needed.
Correct answer: Place a comma after 'fire'.
A comma is needed after an introductory clause or phrase. 'After extinguishing the fire' is an introductory adverbial phrase, and it should be set off from the main clause with a comma for clarity.
Question 5: Which of the following sentences contains a spelling error?
- The lieutenant will accomodate the request for a shift change. (Correct answer)
- The incident commander established a unified command structure.
- Proper maintenance of respiratory equipment is essential.
- The firefighter demonstrated commendable bravery during the rescue.
Correct answer: The lieutenant will accomodate the request for a shift change.
The correct spelling of the word is 'accommodate,' with two 'c's and two 'm's. This is a commonly misspelled word.
Question 6: When completing the narrative section of a fire report, which of the following is the most important reason to use clear, grammatically correct language?
- To make the report longer and more detailed.
- To impress the Fire Chief with a large vocabulary.
- To ensure the report is a clear and accurate legal document that can be understood by various audiences. (Correct answer)
- To practice writing skills for future promotional exams.
Correct answer: To ensure the report is a clear and accurate legal document that can be understood by various audiences.
Fire incident reports are legal documents that may be read by lawyers, insurance investigators, and other officials. Clarity, accuracy, and proper grammar are essential to prevent misinterpretation and to ensure the report can serve as a credible official record of the event.
Free NFST Test Writing and Grammar Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences, appropriate for an official incident report, is grammatically correct and uses the proper capitalization?