20 Reading Comprehension Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. Department policy: "Every self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) must be inspected at the start of each shift. The inspection includes checking the cylinder pressure gauge, testing the low-air alarm, and confirming the face-piece straps are fully loosened. Any SCBA with a cylinder below 90 percent of full pressure must be removed from service and replaced." According to the passage, an SCBA must be removed from service when the cylinder pressure is:

   • A.Exactly at full pressure
   • B.Above 90 percent of full pressure
   • C.Below 90 percent of full pressure✓ Answer
   • D.Below 50 percent of full pressure

   The passage states directly that any SCBA with a cylinder below 90 percent of full pressure must be removed from service, so this specific detail is the only threshold the text supports.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (specific detail); answer supported verbatim by the passage.Report a problem with this question

2. 2. Training manual: "To don turnout gear in the correct order, firefighters first step into the boots, which are already positioned inside the pants. They then pull up the pants and secure the suspenders. Next, they put on the hood, followed by the coat. The helmet is put on last, after the coat collar has been turned up." According to the passage, which item is put on last?

   • A.The boots
   • B.The helmet✓ Answer
   • C.The coat
   • D.The hood

   Following the written sequence, the passage says the helmet is put on last, after the coat collar is turned up, so the helmet is the final item.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (following written instructions); answer supported by ordered sequence in passage.Report a problem with this question

3. 3. Passage: "When a fire in an enclosed room consumes most of the available oxygen, the flames may die down and appear nearly out. If a door or window is then opened, the sudden inflow of fresh air can cause the superheated gases to ignite explosively. This event is known as a backdraft." According to the passage, what causes a backdraft?

   • A.A sudden inflow of fresh air into an oxygen-starved fire✓ Answer
   • B.The flames dying down on their own
   • C.Removing all fuel from the room
   • D.Spraying water on the flames

   The passage identifies the cause as the sudden inflow of fresh air into an oxygen-starved space, which ignites the superheated gases explosively.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (cause and effect); answer supported by causal statement in passage.Report a problem with this question

4. 4. Passage: "Fire prevention education teaches the public simple habits that stop fires before they start: never leaving cooking unattended, keeping flammable items away from heaters, and testing smoke alarms monthly. While firefighters are trained to extinguish fires, department leaders emphasize that preventing a fire is far less costly, in both property and lives, than fighting one." What is the main idea of the passage?

   • A.Preventing fires is more valuable than fighting them✓ Answer
   • B.Firefighters are poorly trained to extinguish fires
   • C.Cooking is the only cause of house fires
   • D.Smoke alarms should be tested once a year

   The passage's central point, stated in its final sentence, is that preventing a fire costs far less than fighting one, making prevention the more valuable approach.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (main idea); answer supported by passage's thesis sentence.Report a problem with this question

5. 5. Incident report: "Engine 4 arrived on scene at 02:14. Crews located a small fire in the kitchen and had it under control by 02:26. Overhaul was completed at 02:52, and the unit returned to quarters at 03:10." According to the report, at what time was the fire under control?

   • A.02:26✓ Answer
   • B.03:10
   • C.02:52
   • D.02:14

   The report states the fire was under control by 02:26; the other times mark arrival, overhaul completion, and return to quarters, which the question does not ask about.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (specific detail); answer supported by stated time in report.Report a problem with this question

6. 6. Passage: "Standard procedure requires the apparatus driver to chock the wheels immediately after parking on any grade. On a recent call, a driver failed to set the chocks. The parked engine rolled several feet downhill before striking a curb. As a result, the department reissued the wheel-chocking rule to all drivers." According to the passage, why did the engine roll downhill?

   • A.The driver did not set the wheel chocks✓ Answer
   • B.The brakes were newly repaired
   • C.The curb was too low
   • D.The engine was left in gear

   The passage attributes the rollaway directly to the driver failing to set the chocks, which is the cause the text supports; the other options are not mentioned.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (cause and effect); answer supported by causal chain in passage.Report a problem with this question

7. 7. Passage: "When using a dry-chemical fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS. First, Pull the safety pin. Second, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. Third, Squeeze the handle to release the agent. Fourth, Sweep the nozzle from side to side until the fire is out." According to the passage, where should the nozzle be aimed?

   • A.At the base of the fire✓ Answer
   • B.At the smoke above the fire
   • C.At the ceiling
   • D.At the top of the flames

   The 'Aim' step in the written PASS instructions directs the user to aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, which is the only target the passage specifies.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (following written instructions); answer supported by PASS step in passage.Report a problem with this question

8. 8. Passage: "A rapid intervention team, or RIT, stands ready outside a burning structure with tools and a spare air supply. Its members do not fight the fire. Their sole purpose is to enter quickly and rescue any firefighter who becomes trapped, injured, or lost inside." What is the main purpose of a rapid intervention team?

   • A.To operate the pump on the engine
   • B.To fight the main body of the fire
   • C.To rescue firefighters who become trapped or injured✓ Answer
   • D.To direct traffic around the scene

   The passage explicitly states the team's sole purpose is to rescue firefighters who become trapped, injured, or lost, and that its members do not fight the fire.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (main idea); answer supported by 'sole purpose' statement in passage.Report a problem with this question

9. 9. Training manual: "A charged hoseline is one that is filled with water and under pressure. An uncharged, or 'dry,' line contains no water. Firefighters advancing toward a fire should call for water only after the nozzle is in position, because a charged line is heavy and difficult to move." According to the manual, a charged hoseline is one that is:

   • A.Empty of water
   • B.Rolled up for storage
   • C.Damaged and leaking
   • D.Filled with water and under pressure✓ Answer

   The manual defines a charged hoseline as one filled with water and under pressure, which is the exact definition the text provides.

   Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (specific detail); answer supported by definition in passage.Report a problem with this question

10. 10. Passage: "Ventilation removes heat and smoke from a burning building. When performed correctly and at the right time, it improves visibility and makes conditions safer. However, if ventilation is performed too early, before hoselines are ready, it can supply the fire with oxygen and cause it to grow rapidly." According to the passage, what can happen if ventilation is performed too early?

    • A.The fire is immediately extinguished
    • B.Visibility becomes permanently worse
    • C.The fire may grow rapidly✓ Answer
    • D.The building cools down too quickly

    The passage states that premature ventilation supplies the fire with oxygen and causes it to grow rapidly, which is the effect the text explicitly describes.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (cause and effect); answer supported by conditional statement in passage.Report a problem with this question

11. 11. Passage: "Before entering a structure, the officer must complete a 360-degree size-up by walking completely around the building when possible. The officer notes the number of floors, signs of fire on each side, and any hazards. Only after this walk-around is the entry plan communicated to the crew." According to the passage, what must the officer do before communicating the entry plan?

    • A.Refuel the apparatus
    • B.Charge every hoseline
    • C.Complete a 360-degree walk-around of the building✓ Answer
    • D.Ventilate the roof

    The passage says the entry plan is communicated only after the 360-degree walk-around, so completing that size-up is the required prior step.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (following written instructions); answer supported by 'only after' sequence in passage.Report a problem with this question

12. 12. Passage: "Firefighting is rarely the work of one person. Advancing a hoseline, forcing a door, and searching a smoke-filled room all demand coordinated effort. New recruits often arrive believing individual strength matters most, but experienced crews know that communication and teamwork determine whether an operation succeeds." What is the main idea of the passage?

    • A.Recruits should not advance hoselines
    • B.Doors should never be forced open
    • C.Teamwork and communication are essential to firefighting✓ Answer
    • D.Individual strength is the most important firefighting skill

    The passage builds to the point that communication and teamwork, not individual strength, determine success, making teamwork's importance the main idea.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (main idea); answer supported by concluding contrast in passage.Report a problem with this question

13. 13. Incident report: "Three occupants were home when the fire began. Two adults escaped through the front door unharmed. One child was rescued from a second-floor bedroom by ladder and treated for smoke inhalation. No firefighters were injured." According to the report, how was the child rescued?

    • A.The child escaped without help
    • B.Through a basement window
    • C.Through the front door
    • D.By ladder from a second-floor bedroom✓ Answer

    The report states the child was rescued by ladder from a second-floor bedroom; the front door describes how the two adults escaped, not the child.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (specific detail); answer supported by stated rescue method in report.Report a problem with this question

14. 14. Passage: "Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion. Because people cannot see or smell it, they may not know they are being poisoned. This is why the manual requires a working carbon monoxide detector in every dwelling: the detector warns occupants of a danger their senses cannot detect." According to the passage, why are carbon monoxide detectors required?

    • A.Because the gas is visible only in daylight
    • B.Because the gas has a strong odor that spreads quickly
    • C.Because the gas is heavier than air
    • D.Because people cannot see or smell the gas themselves✓ Answer

    The passage explains detectors are required because the gas is colorless and odorless, so occupants cannot sense it and need a device to warn them.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (cause and effect); answer supported by reasoning in passage.Report a problem with this question

15. 15. Passage: "If a firefighter's low-air alarm activates while inside a structure, the standard procedure is to immediately notify the officer by radio, stop the current task, and begin exiting by the shortest known route. The firefighter should not remove the face piece until reaching fresh air outside." According to the passage, when may the firefighter remove the face piece?

    • A.After notifying the officer
    • B.Only after the fire is extinguished
    • C.As soon as the alarm sounds
    • D.Only after reaching fresh air outside✓ Answer

    The written procedure states the face piece is not to be removed until the firefighter reaches fresh air outside, making that the only permitted time.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (following written instructions); answer supported by procedure in passage.Report a problem with this question

16. 16. Passage: "Regular apparatus maintenance keeps trucks ready to respond at any moment. Checking fluid levels, tire pressure, and equipment inventory each day prevents breakdowns during emergencies. A truck that fails on the way to a call is worse than useless, because it delays help and ties up crews who must wait for a replacement." What is the main idea of the passage?

    • A.Trucks rarely break down during emergencies
    • B.Tire pressure is the only thing worth checking
    • C.Crews should not wait for replacement trucks
    • D.Daily maintenance keeps apparatus ready and prevents costly breakdowns✓ Answer

    The passage's overall point is that daily maintenance keeps trucks ready and prevents breakdowns that would delay emergency response, which is the main idea.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (main idea); answer supported by passage's overall claim.Report a problem with this question

17. 17. Policy: "The fireground is divided into three zones. The hot zone is the immediately dangerous area closest to the fire and is restricted to crews in full protective gear. The warm zone is a controlled area for support operations. The cold zone is the safe outer area where command and staging are located." According to the policy, where are command and staging located?

    • A.In the cold zone✓ Answer
    • B.Inside the burning structure
    • C.In the hot zone
    • D.In the warm zone

    The policy places command and staging in the cold zone, described as the safe outer area, so that is the only zone the text supports.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (specific detail); answer supported by zone definition in policy.Report a problem with this question

18. 18. Incident report: "The fire spread to the attic because a ceiling was not opened during overhaul. Hidden embers above the ceiling continued to smolder undetected. Hours after the crews left, these embers reignited into a second, larger fire." According to the report, what caused the second fire?

    • A.Faulty electrical wiring in the attic
    • B.A gas leak in the basement
    • C.A lightning strike on the roof
    • D.Hidden embers that were never exposed during overhaul✓ Answer

    The report attributes the second fire to hidden embers that kept smoldering because the ceiling was not opened during overhaul, then reignited.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (cause and effect); answer supported by causal explanation in report.Report a problem with this question

19. 19. Passage: "The mayday procedure follows a set order. The trapped firefighter transmits the word 'Mayday' three times, then states their unit, location, and the nature of the emergency. After transmitting, the firefighter activates the personal alert safety system (PASS) device to help searchers locate them by sound." According to the passage, what does the firefighter do after transmitting the mayday message?

    • A.Remove the SCBA
    • B.Continue fighting the fire
    • C.Turn off the radio
    • D.Activate the PASS device✓ Answer

    Following the written order, the passage states that after transmitting, the firefighter activates the PASS device so searchers can locate them by sound.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (following written instructions); answer supported by sequence in passage.Report a problem with this question

20. 20. Passage: "Every emergency call, no matter how small it first appears, is treated with the same disciplined response. A report of smoke may turn out to be burnt food, or it may be a fire spreading inside a wall. Because crews cannot know which it is until they investigate, the department's policy is to respond fully to every alarm and scale back only after the situation is confirmed safe." What is the main idea of the passage?

    • A.Every call is treated seriously until the situation is confirmed safe✓ Answer
    • B.Most smoke reports are burnt food
    • C.Crews should investigate only large fires
    • D.Small calls should receive a smaller response

    The passage's main point is that because crews cannot know a call's severity in advance, every alarm gets a full response until confirmed safe.

    Source: IPMA-HR firefighter exam blueprint — Reading Comprehension (main idea); answer supported by policy rationale in passage.Report a problem with this question

Practice questions modeled on the common domains of firefighter written entrance exams (reading, math, mechanical reasoning, spatial orientation). Not affiliated with or endorsed by any fire department or testing vendor. Departments use different exams — check your department's announcement for its specific format. U.S. Fire Administration →