I85PREP
⌘ K
FRNSW Cognitive Test study materials
FRNSW Cognitive Test study resources

FRNSW Cognitive Test practice questions

One question at a time. Build your FRNSW Cognitive Test understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Verbal reasoning

A firefighter reads a brigade instruction stating: 'Crews must report to the staging area before entering the hot zone.' Which statement restates this instruction accurately?

  1. Crews must enter the hot zone before going to the staging area.
  2. Crews must go to the staging area prior to entering the hot zone. Correct answer.
  3. Crews may enter the hot zone whenever they choose, without reporting.
  4. Crews are not required to visit the staging area at any point.

Explanation

The original instruction sets an order of events: reporting to staging happens first, and entering the hot zone happens second. A correct restatement must preserve that sequence without adding or removing obligations. Only the option that places staging before hot zone entry keeps both the order and the mandatory tone.

Question 2Verbal reasoning

In a report, the word 'conflagration' is used to describe an incident. Which meaning best fits this usage?

  1. A false alarm activation
  2. A large and destructive fire Correct answer.
  3. A routine equipment inspection
  4. A minor electrical fault

Explanation

'Conflagration' denotes a large, destructive fire, so it fits a serious incident description. The other options describe minor or non-fire events that the word cannot denote. Recognising precise vocabulary helps candidates interpret incident reports accurately.

Question 3Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'Smoke alarms save lives, but only when they work. Batteries should be tested monthly and replaced yearly.' Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. An alarm with a flat battery offers no protection. Correct answer.
  2. Smoke alarms are unnecessary in modern homes.
  3. Testing alone guarantees an alarm will never fail.
  4. Yearly battery replacement makes monthly testing pointless.

Explanation

The passage states that alarms save lives only when they work, implying a non-functioning alarm provides no benefit. Monthly testing and yearly replacement are presented as the means of keeping alarms working. The supported conclusion is therefore that a flat battery leaves the alarm ineffective.

Question 4Verbal reasoning

Which word is closest in meaning to 'hazard' as used in fire safety material?

  1. Completed drill
  2. Source of potential harm Correct answer.
  3. Guaranteed injury
  4. Approved procedure

Explanation

In fire safety language a hazard is any source of potential harm, whether or not harm actually occurs. It is a condition or thing with the capacity to cause damage. The other options describe outcomes, activities, or approvals rather than a potential source of harm.

Question 5Verbal reasoning

A notice reads: 'Do not obstruct hydrants at any time.' Which action complies with this notice?

  1. Parking a vehicle directly in front of a hydrant
  2. Stacking pallets beside a hydrant for a short period
  3. Leaving a skip bin over a hydrant overnight
  4. Keeping the area around a hydrant clear of objects Correct answer.

Explanation

The notice prohibits obstructing hydrants, so compliance means leaving them unobstructed. Keeping the surrounding area clear directly satisfies that requirement. Parking, stacking, or placing bins near a hydrant all create obstruction.

Question 6Verbal reasoning

Which sentence uses 'evacuate' correctly in a fire service context?

  1. The hose evacuated water onto the fire.
  2. The crew evacuated the building of smoke.
  3. The smoke evacuated quickly through the windows.
  4. The officer evacuated the occupants to a safe assembly point. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Evacuate' means to remove people from a dangerous place, so an officer evacuating occupants to a safe point is correct usage. The verb takes people as its object, not smoke, water, or the smoke's own movement. The other sentences assign the action to things that cannot be evacuated.

Question 7Verbal reasoning

A briefing states: 'All personnel are to wear full protective equipment during structural firefighting.' Which situation is covered by this statement?

  1. A crew restocking supplies in a store room
  2. A team conducting a community school visit
  3. A crew fighting a fire inside a house Correct answer.
  4. An officer completing paperwork at a desk

Explanation

The statement applies to structural firefighting, which is firefighting inside a building. Fighting a fire inside a house is precisely that activity, so full protective equipment is required. The other options are administrative or public activities outside the stated scope.

Question 8Verbal reasoning

Which pair of words are opposites?

  1. Extinguish and ignite Correct answer.
  2. Combustible and flammable
  3. Ignite and kindle
  4. Danger and risk

Explanation

'Extinguish' means to put out a fire, while 'ignite' means to set something alight, so they are opposites. The other pairs are either near-synonyms or related terms rather than antonyms. Identifying antonym pairs supports accurate comprehension of fire terminology.

Question 9Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'Sprinkler systems activate individually. Only the sprinkler heads near a fire operate, so water damage is limited.' Which statement is supported by the passage?

  1. Sprinkler systems cause more water damage than fire hoses.
  2. All sprinkler heads activate at once when any fire occurs.
  3. Sprinkler heads never activate during a fire.
  4. Only the sprinkler heads close to a fire release water. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage explicitly says only sprinkler heads near a fire operate and that this limits water damage. That directly supports the statement that only nearby heads release water. The passage makes no comparison with hoses and does not claim heads fail to activate.

Question 10Verbal reasoning

A report says: 'The fire was contained to the kitchen, although smoke spread throughout the house.' Which statement is consistent with the report?

  1. There was no smoke outside the kitchen.
  2. The fire destroyed the entire house.
  3. The flames were limited to one room while smoke reached other areas. Correct answer.
  4. The fire started in the roof space.

Explanation

'Contained to the kitchen' means the flames were limited to that room, while 'smoke spread throughout the house' means smoke reached other areas. A consistent restatement must keep both facts together. The other options contradict one or both parts of the report.

Question 11Verbal reasoning

Which sentence best expresses the same idea as: 'Unless the alarm is silenced, the crew will not re-enter the building'?

  1. The crew will re-enter only if the alarm has been silenced. Correct answer.
  2. The crew will never re-enter the building under any circumstances.
  3. The crew will re-enter the building whether or not the alarm is silenced.
  4. Silencing the alarm is not related to re-entry.

Explanation

'Unless X, Y' means Y will happen only if X occurs, so re-entry depends on the alarm being silenced. The correct restatement preserves that conditional relationship. Options that remove the condition or deny re-entry entirely change the meaning.

Question 12Verbal reasoning

In the sentence 'The crew's rapid response prevented the fire from spreading', what is the function of the apostrophe in 'crew's'?

  1. It indicates a quotation.
  2. It forms the plural of 'crew'.
  3. It shows possession, indicating the response belonging to the crew. Correct answer.
  4. It marks a contraction of 'crew is'.

Explanation

An apostrophe before an s on a noun typically marks possession, so 'crew's' shows the response belongs to the crew. It is not a contraction here because 'crew is rapid response' would be meaningless. Plurals and quotations do not use apostrophes in this way.

Question 13Verbal reasoning

A safety bulletin states: 'Personnel should avoid entering a room where the door is hot to the touch.' What is the reasoning behind this guidance?

  1. Door handles are unreliable in all weather.
  2. A hot door indicates the fire beyond is likely still intense. Correct answer.
  3. Entering any room is prohibited at all times.
  4. Hot doors are always caused by sunlight.

Explanation

A door that is hot to the touch suggests a substantial fire on the other side, so entering risks exposure to intense heat and fire. The guidance is based on that inference about conditions beyond the door. The other options either misattribute the heat or overstate the rule.

Question 14Verbal reasoning

Which word best completes the sentence: 'The officer gave a _____ instruction, leaving no room for misunderstanding'?

  1. vague
  2. ambiguous
  3. precise Correct answer.
  4. lengthy

Explanation

The clause 'leaving no room for misunderstanding' signals that the instruction was clear and exact, which 'precise' conveys. 'Vague' and 'ambiguous' mean the opposite, creating a contradiction. 'Lengthy' concerns duration rather than clarity.

Question 15Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'Fire blankets smother a fire by cutting off oxygen. They suit small pan fires but are unsuitable for large or spreading fires.' Which statement is supported?

  1. Fire blankets should be used on spreading fires.
  2. Fire blankets work by removing fuel from a fire.
  3. Fire blankets cut off oxygen and are best for small fires. Correct answer.
  4. Fire blankets are suitable for any size of fire.

Explanation

The passage states two linked facts: blankets smother fire by cutting off oxygen, and they suit small pan fires. A supported statement must combine these accurately. The other options misstate the mechanism or the suitable scale of fire.

Question 16Verbal reasoning

Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' rather than 'less'?

  1. Fewer heat was felt near the door.
  2. The crew had fewer time than needed.
  3. There was fewer smoke than expected.
  4. There were fewer alarms installed than planned. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Fewer' applies to countable items such as alarms, while 'less' applies to uncountable quantities such as smoke, time, or heat. Only the sentence with a countable noun uses 'fewer' correctly. The others pair 'fewer' with uncountable nouns.

Question 17Verbal reasoning

A memo says: 'The drill will proceed rain or shine.' Which statement best captures the memo's meaning?

  1. The drill will occur only in fine weather.
  2. The drill will happen regardless of the weather. Correct answer.
  3. The drill will be cancelled if it rains.
  4. The drill depends on a weather forecast.

Explanation

'Rain or shine' is an idiom meaning regardless of weather conditions, so the drill proceeds whatever the weather. The phrase removes weather as a condition. Options that make the drill dependent on weather contradict the idiom.

Question 18Verbal reasoning

Which statement follows logically from: 'Every crew member who completed the training is certified'?

  1. Some certified people did not complete the training.
  2. No crew member is certified.
  3. Anyone certified in that crew completed the training. Correct answer.
  4. All certified people completed the training.

Explanation

The original states that completing the training is sufficient for certification among crew members, so anyone certified in that group must have completed it. It does not claim the reverse, that all certified people everywhere completed the training. The other options either reverse the relationship or deny it.

Question 19Verbal reasoning

A notice reads: 'Lifts must not be used during a fire evacuation.' Which reason best explains this rule?

  1. Lifts are too slow for large buildings.
  2. Lifts may fail or open onto fire-affected floors, trapping occupants. Correct answer.
  3. Lifts consume too much electricity during a fire.
  4. Lifts are reserved for firefighters during an evacuation.

Explanation

The rule exists because lifts can lose power or stop at a floor affected by fire, trapping people inside. Stairs are the safe route during evacuation. The other options offer reasons unrelated to the safety hazard the rule addresses.

Question 20Verbal reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to 'flammable'?

  1. Combustible
  2. Ignitable
  3. Inflammable
  4. Non-combustible Correct answer.

Explanation

'Flammable' means able to catch fire easily, so its opposite describes something that will not burn, which 'non-combustible' conveys. 'Combustible', 'inflammable', and 'ignitable' all mean capable of burning. Recognising this contrast helps interpret material safety labels.

Question 21Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'A fire needs heat, fuel, and oxygen. Remove any one of these and the fire goes out.' Which statement is a valid conclusion?

  1. Cooling a fire removes heat and can extinguish it. Correct answer.
  2. Fires can burn without oxygen.
  3. Adding more oxygen will always extinguish a fire.
  4. Fuel is the only factor that matters in a fire.

Explanation

The passage states that removing any one of the three elements extinguishes a fire, and cooling removes heat. That makes cooling a valid way to extinguish fire. The other options contradict the stated requirement for all three elements.

Question 22Verbal reasoning

A report states: 'Although the alarm sounded, the occupants did not evacuate immediately.' Which statement best captures the contrast in this sentence?

  1. The occupants evacuated before the alarm sounded.
  2. The alarm sounded and the occupants evacuated immediately.
  3. The alarm sounded, but the occupants delayed their evacuation. Correct answer.
  4. The alarm did not sound and the occupants evacuated immediately.

Explanation

'Although' introduces a contrast: the alarm sounded, yet the expected response of immediate evacuation did not occur. The correct restatement preserves both facts and the contrast using 'but'. The other options remove the contrast or reverse the sequence.

Question 23Verbal reasoning

Which sentence uses 'principal' correctly in a fire service context?

  1. The principal of the hose was damaged.
  2. The principal reason for the inspection was to check exits. Correct answer.
  3. The crew followed the principal of ventilation.
  4. The principal alarm sounded at noon.

Explanation

'Principal' as an adjective means main or most important, so 'the principal reason' is correct. As a noun it refers to a leading person or a sum of money, while 'principle' denotes a rule or law. The other sentences confuse the two words or misuse the term.

Question 24Verbal reasoning

A directive states: 'Where practicable, crews should approach the incident from upwind.' Which interpretation is correct?

  1. Crews should approach from upwind when it is feasible to do so. Correct answer.
  2. Upwind approach is never relevant to firefighting.
  3. Crews must always approach from upwind without exception.
  4. Crews should always approach from downwind.

Explanation

'Where practicable' means where it is feasible or possible, so the directive recommends an upwind approach when circumstances allow. It does not impose an absolute requirement. Options that make it unconditional or reverse the direction misread the directive.

Question 25Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'Ventilation can improve visibility and reduce heat, but it can also introduce oxygen that intensifies a fire if timed poorly.' Which statement best reflects the passage?

  1. Ventilation never affects visibility.
  2. Ventilation has only negative effects on firefighting.
  3. Ventilation always reduces the intensity of a fire.
  4. Ventilation has benefits but carries risks if poorly timed. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage balances advantages, improved visibility and reduced heat, against a risk of intensifying fire when poorly timed. A faithful summary must include both sides. Options that present ventilation as only beneficial or only harmful distort the passage.

Question 26Verbal reasoning

A station notice reads: 'Crews are to check breathing apparatus after every use.' Which statement is the most accurate restatement of that requirement?

  1. Breathing apparatus only needs checking when a fault is reported.
  2. Breathing apparatus must be replaced after every use.
  3. Breathing apparatus must be inspected once each week regardless of use.
  4. Breathing apparatus must be inspected each time it has been used. Correct answer.

Explanation

The notice ties the check to use: every time the equipment is used, a check follows. It says nothing about a weekly schedule, reported faults, or replacement, so those readings add conditions the text does not contain.

Question 27Verbal reasoning

In the sentence 'The incident controller's decision was questioned', what does the apostrophe in 'controller's' show?

  1. That the word controller is plural.
  2. That the decision belongs to the incident controller. Correct answer.
  3. That several incident controllers were involved.
  4. That a letter has been left out of the word.

Explanation

An apostrophe before the s marks possession, so the decision is attributed to the incident controller. A plural would be formed without an apostrophe, and omission apostrophes mark contracted words such as 'it's', which does not apply here.

Question 28Verbal reasoning

A bulletin states: 'Smoke alarms provide early warning only if they are maintained.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. Alarms give early warning regardless of their condition.
  2. Smoke alarms are unnecessary in well-maintained buildings.
  3. Maintenance is more important than having an alarm.
  4. A poorly maintained alarm may fail to give early warning. Correct answer.

Explanation

The statement makes maintenance a condition of early warning, so an unmaintained alarm may not warn early. The other options either deny the value of alarms or reverse the conditional logic of the sentence.

Question 29Verbal reasoning

Which word is closest in meaning to 'hazardous' as used in a fire service risk assessment?

  1. Temporary
  2. Helpful
  3. Uncertain
  4. Dangerous Correct answer.

Explanation

In risk assessment language, a hazard is a source of harm, so 'hazardous' means dangerous. The other words describe usefulness, doubt, or duration and do not carry the sense of potential harm.

Question 30Verbal reasoning

A report says: 'The brigade responded promptly, and the fire was extinguished before it reached the adjoining units.' Which statement is best supported by the report?

  1. The fire started in an adjoining unit.
  2. The adjoining units were not reached by the fire. Correct answer.
  3. The adjoining units were damaged by smoke only.
  4. The brigade arrived after the fire had spread.

Explanation

The clause states the fire was put out before reaching the adjoining units, so those units were not reached. Smoke damage, the fire's origin, and late arrival are not stated and would each require information the report does not give.

Question 31Verbal reasoning

A directive reads: 'Where possible, appliances should be parked clear of hydrants.' Which interpretation is correct?

  1. Appliances must never be parked near a hydrant.
  2. Parking clear of hydrants is preferred but not always achievable. Correct answer.
  3. Appliances may be parked on hydrants when convenient.
  4. Hydrants should be moved if an appliance needs the space.

Explanation

The phrase 'where possible' makes the instruction a preference subject to circumstances rather than an absolute ban. Options that make it unconditional or that reverse the intent misread that qualifier.

Question 32Verbal reasoning

Which sentence uses 'station' correctly as a verb in a fire service context?

  1. The crew returned to station before dusk.
  2. The captain chose to station two crews at the rear of the building. Correct answer.
  3. The new station opened last month.
  4. The station was cleaned after the morning briefing.

Explanation

As a verb, 'station' means to place personnel or equipment in a position, which only the first sentence does. The other sentences use 'station' as a noun referring to a building or location.

Question 33Verbal reasoning

A memo states: 'Unless the wind changes, the hazard reduction burn will proceed.' Which situation would stop the burn from proceeding?

  1. The crew arrives early.
  2. The wind changes. Correct answer.
  3. The burn is scheduled for the morning.
  4. The wind stays the same.

Explanation

'Unless' introduces the condition that cancels the main clause, so a change in wind is what halts the burn. A steady wind is the condition under which the burn goes ahead.

Question 34Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'Closed doors slow the spread of fire and smoke, but they must be closed before the fire starts to be effective.' Which statement best captures the passage?

  1. Doors should be opened to let smoke escape.
  2. The benefit of closed doors depends on them being shut early. Correct answer.
  3. Closed doors have no effect on fire spread.
  4. Closed doors stop fire completely once it has started.

Explanation

The passage credits closed doors with slowing fire and smoke but ties that benefit to being closed before ignition. It neither denies the benefit nor claims the doors stop fire completely.

Question 35Verbal reasoning

Which sentence correctly uses 'affect' rather than 'effect'?

  1. The affect of the heat was severe.
  2. Officers discussed the affect of the change.
  3. Smoke can affect visibility inside the building. Correct answer.
  4. The new procedure had a positive affect on response times.

Explanation

'Affect' is normally a verb meaning to influence, which fits the first sentence. 'Effect' is the noun for a result, so the remaining sentences need 'effect' in place of 'affect'.

Question 36Verbal reasoning

A notice reads: 'Only firefighters who have completed the confined space course may enter the tunnel.' Which statement must be true?

  1. The tunnel is closed to all firefighters.
  2. Firefighters without the course may enter with a colleague.
  3. A firefighter who has not completed the course may not enter the tunnel. Correct answer.
  4. Every firefighter has completed the confined space course.

Explanation

The notice makes course completion a necessary condition for entry, so anyone without the course is excluded. It does not claim all firefighters are qualified, nor does it allow exceptions.

Question 37Verbal reasoning

Which pair of words are opposites in a fire safety context?

  1. Heat and temperature
  2. Smoke and fumes
  3. Combustion and burning
  4. Ignition and extinguishment Correct answer.

Explanation

Ignition is the starting of fire, while extinguishment is putting it out, so the two are opposites. The other pairs name closely related or overlapping ideas rather than contrasting ones.

Question 38Verbal reasoning

A brief report states: 'The crew ventilated the roof, which improved conditions inside.' What is the relationship between the two parts of the sentence?

  1. The ventilation and the improvement are unrelated.
  2. The improvement caused the ventilation.
  3. The improvement happened before the ventilation.
  4. The ventilation is presented as the cause of the improvement. Correct answer.

Explanation

The relative clause 'which improved conditions' describes the result of ventilating the roof, so ventilation is given as the cause. The sentence does not reverse that order or deny a link between the two events.

Question 39Verbal reasoning

Which sentence is written in the active voice, suitable for an incident report?

  1. The crew extinguished the fire within ten minutes. Correct answer.
  2. The fire was extinguished within ten minutes.
  3. The fire had been extinguished by the crew.
  4. Within ten minutes the fire was put out.

Explanation

In the active voice the doer comes first and performs the action, as in 'the crew extinguished'. The other sentences place the fire first and use passive verb forms, which obscure who acted.

Question 40Verbal reasoning

A policy states: 'All incidents involving gas cylinders must be reported, whether or not anyone is injured.' Which incident must be reported?

  1. Any incident that caused an injury.
  2. A minor injury that did not involve a cylinder.
  3. A cylinder inspection that found no fault.
  4. A gas cylinder incident in which no one was hurt. Correct answer.

Explanation

The policy requires reporting of gas cylinder incidents regardless of injury, so an incident with no injuries still qualifies. The other options either lack a cylinder or describe routine inspection rather than an incident.

Question 41Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'Sprinklers control fires by wetting nearby surfaces, but they cannot compensate for poor housekeeping.' Which statement is best supported?

  1. Sprinklers make housekeeping unnecessary.
  2. Poor housekeeping improves sprinkler performance.
  3. Clutter can reduce the effectiveness of sprinklers. Correct answer.
  4. Sprinklers always extinguish a fire completely.

Explanation

Saying sprinklers cannot compensate for poor housekeeping implies that clutter or poor storage limits what they can achieve. The passage does not claim sprinklers extinguish fires completely or remove the need for good housekeeping.

Question 42Verbal reasoning

A radio message says: 'Crews are to remain at the staging area pending further instructions.' What should the crews do?

  1. Return to the station immediately.
  2. Leave the staging area and report later.
  3. Proceed to the fire ground without waiting.
  4. Wait at the staging area until told otherwise. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Pending' means awaiting, so crews stay at the staging area until new instructions arrive. Options that send crews elsewhere or onward immediately contradict the message.

Question 43Verbal reasoning

A statement reads: 'No crew entered the building until the gas reading was confirmed safe.' Which statement is consistent with it?

  1. The gas reading was taken after the crew entered.
  2. Entry occurred only after the gas reading was confirmed safe. Correct answer.
  3. Entry occurred before the gas reading was taken.
  4. The crew entered while the reading was being confirmed.

Explanation

'Until' marks the point before which the action did not happen, so entry followed confirmation of a safe reading. Options placing entry before or during the reading reverse that sequence.

Question 44Verbal reasoning

Which sentence best expresses the same idea as: 'If the alarm is faulty, the drill cannot proceed safely'?

  1. A faulty alarm would prevent the drill from proceeding safely. Correct answer.
  2. The drill can proceed safely even with a faulty alarm.
  3. The drill will proceed safely only if the alarm is faulty.
  4. A faulty alarm guarantees the drill will proceed safely.

Explanation

The original makes a faulty alarm a barrier to a safe drill, which the first option restates. The others invert the condition or claim safety despite a fault.

Question 45Verbal reasoning

A report states: 'Although the first crew arrived within four minutes, the fire had already spread to the roof.' Which statement is best supported?

  1. The fire did not reach the roof at all.
  2. The first crew arrived before the fire started.
  3. The first crew caused the fire to spread to the roof.
  4. The fire reached the roof before the first crew arrived. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Already' with the past perfect shows the spread happened before the arrival described. The report gives no basis for blaming the crew and does not deny that the roof was reached.

Question 46Verbal reasoning

Read this passage: 'Two crews attacked the fire from opposite sides. The officer later noted that this tactic confined the damage to a single room, though it exposed both crews to greater risk.' Which statement best captures the officer's view?

  1. The tactic eliminated all risk to the crews.
  2. The tactic failed to limit the damage.
  3. The tactic was abandoned because it was too dangerous.
  4. The tactic achieved a good outcome at the cost of added danger to crews. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage sets a benefit, confined damage, against a cost, greater crew risk, and the officer's note acknowledges both. It does not say the tactic was abandoned or unsuccessful, nor that risk was removed.

Question 47Verbal reasoning

A directive states: 'Crews should not enter a structure where the floor has been compromised unless a structural assessment has been completed.' Which action complies with the directive?

  1. Entering immediately to search for occupants.
  2. Entering only after a structural assessment has been completed. Correct answer.
  3. Entering without assessment if the fire is small.
  4. Entering if a colleague considers the floor safe.

Explanation

The directive permits entry only once a structural assessment is done, making that assessment the single stated exception. Informal opinions, urgency, or fire size are not accepted substitutes for the assessment.

Question 48Verbal reasoning

A statement reads: 'Every appliance that passed inspection was fitted with a working radio.' Which conclusion follows?

  1. No appliance passed inspection.
  2. An appliance without a working radio did not pass inspection. Correct answer.
  3. Every appliance with a working radio passed inspection.
  4. Some appliances without radios passed inspection.

Explanation

The statement makes a working radio a feature of every inspected appliance, so its absence means the appliance did not pass. The converse, that a radio guarantees a pass, does not follow, and the last two options contradict the statement.

Question 49Verbal reasoning

Which sentence uses 'comprise' correctly in a brigade context?

  1. Four firefighters comprise the commander in the strike team.
  2. The strike team comprises four firefighters and a commander. Correct answer.
  3. The strike team comprises of four firefighters and a commander.
  4. The strike team is comprised of four firefighters and a commander.

Explanation

'Comprise' means to consist of and takes a direct object without 'of', so 'comprises four firefighters' is correct. 'Is comprised of' and 'comprises of' are widely criticised forms, and the third option reverses the whole-and-parts relationship.

Question 50Verbal reasoning

A post-incident summary reads: 'The officer ordered the crew to withdraw, and they reassembled at the muster point.' Which statement best describes the logical link between the two clauses?

  1. The withdrawal and the order were unrelated events.
  2. The reassembly at the muster point caused the order to be given.
  3. The withdrawal was carried out because the officer gave the order. Correct answer.
  4. The withdrawal happened before the officer gave any order.

Explanation

The conjunction 'and' joined to a sequence of command and action signals that the crew's withdrawal followed from the officer's order. The sentence presents the order as the reason the crew left and reassembled. No other option preserves that cause-and-effect direction.