Fire Services Written Aptitude Test (Station Officer) - Hong Kong cheat sheet

Subject-verb agreement: singular subjects take singular verbs; intervening phrases do not change the number (e.g., 'The list of items is on the desk').

Tense consistency in reported speech: shift back one tense (present → past, past → past perfect) when the reporting verb is in the past.

Dangling modifiers: an introductory participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause (e.g., 'Walking to the station, I saw the fire engine' not 'Walking to the station, the fire engine was seen').

Parallel structure: items in a list or comparison must share grammatical form (e.g., 'to assess, to plan, and to act' not 'to assess, planning, and action').

Commonly confused pairs: affect (verb) vs. effect (noun); principal (main) vs. principle (rule); stationary (not moving) vs. stationery (writing materials).

Formal register for reports: avoid contractions, slang, and first-person unless the genre permits; use passive voice to emphasize the action or when the agent is unknown.

Punctuation: use a semicolon between closely related independent clauses; use a colon to introduce a list or explanation; avoid comma splices.

Reading comprehension strategy: identify the main idea, distinguish fact from opinion, and locate explicit supporting details rather than relying on prior knowledge.

常見錯別字：『部署』非『佈署』；『措施』非『措拖』；『消防』非『消房』；『撲滅』非『撲減』。

量詞搭配：一『場』火災、一『輛』消防車、一『名』消防員、一『支』水槍、一『條』水帶。

書面語與口語轉換：口語『唔該』轉為書面語『謝謝』或『請問』；『搵』轉為『尋找』；『俾』轉為『給』或『被』。

被動句：粵語常用『俾/被』，正式書面可用『獲』（正面）或『遭』（負面），如『獲救』、『遭焚毀』。

成語運用：『防患未然』指事前預防；『居安思危』指安樂時想到危險；『臨危不亂』指遇險不慌。

標點符號：中文書名號用《》，篇名用〈〉；省略號為六點『……』；破折號佔兩個字位『--』。

閱讀理解：記敘文找六要素（時間、地點、人物、起因、經過、結果）；說明文找說明對象、特徵、方法。

公函格式：上款頂格、正文每段首行縮排兩個字位、下款另起一行靠右，日期置於下款之後。

Percentage change = (new − old) / old × 100%; reverse a percentage increase by dividing by (1 + rate), e.g., a 20% increase is reversed by ÷1.2.

Ratio scaling: if a:b = 3:5 and a = 12, then b = 12 × (5/3) = 20; keep units consistent before forming the ratio.

Average speed for a round trip = total distance ÷ total time = 2xy/(x+y) for equal distances at speeds x and y; it is not the arithmetic mean.

Work rate: combined rate = sum of individual rates; time together = 1 / (1/t₁ + 1/t₂); if A is twice as fast as B, A does 2/3 of the work.

Simple interest = P × r × t; compound interest = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) − P; for annual compounding use P(1+r)^t − P.

Probability of independent events = product of individual probabilities; of mutually exclusive events = sum; P(at least one) = 1 − P(none).

Unit conversion: 1 hour = 3,600 s; 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h; 1 L = 1,000 cm³; 1 hectare = 10,000 m².

Data sufficiency: determine whether each statement alone, both together, or neither is sufficient before calculating; do not assume extra information.

Valid argument forms: modus ponens (P→Q, P ∴ Q) and modus tollens (P→Q, ¬Q ∴ ¬P); invalid: affirming the consequent (Q ∴ P) and denying the antecedent (¬P ∴ ¬Q).

Syllogism rules: a valid conclusion cannot contain a term absent from the premises; two negative premises yield no conclusion; two particular premises yield no conclusion.

Contrapositive: P→Q is logically equivalent to ¬Q→¬P; the converse (Q→P) and inverse (¬P→¬Q) are not equivalent.

Necessary vs. sufficient: 'A is necessary for B' means B→A; 'A is sufficient for B' means A→B; do not reverse them.

Seating/ordering puzzles: draw a linear or circular diagram, mark fixed positions first, then apply relative constraints; for circular arrangements fix one person to break rotational symmetry.

Assumption questions: the correct answer is a statement the argument must rely on; negate it-if the argument collapses, it is the assumption.

Strengthen/weaken questions: identify the conclusion and evidence; a weakener attacks the link (alternative cause, counterexample), a strengthener supports it.

Number-series patterns: check differences, ratios, alternating sequences, squares/cubes, and cumulative sums before assuming a single rule.

Lever: effort × effort arm = load × load arm; a class-1 lever has the fulcrum between effort and load, class-2 has load between, class-3 has effort between.

Pulley systems: a single fixed pulley changes direction only (mechanical advantage 1); a movable pulley halves the effort; MA equals the number of supporting rope segments.

Pressure = force ÷ area (P = F/A); a smaller nozzle area increases discharge pressure for the same force; hydrostatic pressure = ρgh.

Bernoulli effect: where fluid speed increases, static pressure decreases; this explains why water streams from a nozzle and why draft occurs in a venturi.

Heat transfer: conduction (through solids), convection (through fluids), radiation (electromagnetic, no medium); water absorbs about 4.2 kJ per kg per °C.

Combustion triangle: fuel, oxygen, and heat; removing any one side extinguishes fire; a fire tetrahedron adds the uninhibited chain reaction.

Electrical: Ohm's law V = IR; power P = VI = I²R; a short circuit has near-zero resistance and draws high current, risking overheating.

Gears and belts: gear ratio = teeth of driven ÷ teeth of driver; a larger driven gear turns slower but with greater torque.

Priority order at an incident: life safety (rescue), then incident stabilization (fire control), then property conservation; never sacrifice safety for property.

Scene size-up: gather information on occupancy, construction, fire location and extent, access, water supply, and hazards before committing crews.

Risk management principle: risk a lot to save a lot (savable lives), risk little to save little (property), risk nothing when there is nothing to save.

Mayday criteria: firefighter trapped, lost, out of air, or injured; transmit 'Mayday' with name, location, and nature of emergency; switch to the designated channel.

Accountability: maintain a personnel tracking system (e.g., entry control) and a two-out rule-no interior attack without a standby crew outside.

Communication: use clear, standard terminology; confirm receipt of orders (close the loop); avoid freelancing and report changes in conditions.

Post-incident: preserve the scene for investigation, conduct a hot debrief, and document decisions and observations while fresh.

Ethical conduct: follow lawful orders, report misconduct through the chain of command, and avoid conflicts of interest; public trust depends on integrity.

The Fire Services Department (FSD) is responsible for firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical services; its motto is 'Serving the community with dedication and professionalism' (Chinese: 救災扶危，為民解困).

Hong Kong has 19 fire stations organised into four operational regions (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories North, New Territories South) plus marine and airport commands.

The FSD operates ambulance services; the target response time for emergency calls in built-up areas is 6 minutes for fire and 8 minutes for ambulance (as commonly cited).

The Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95) and its subsidiary regulations govern fire safety, including the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 572) for composite and domestic buildings.

Hong Kong's fire services training is delivered at the Fire Services Training School (FSTS) and the Ambulance Training School; station officers undergo command and leadership courses.

Key Hong Kong geography: Victoria Harbour separates Hong Kong Island from Kowloon; the New Territories borders mainland China; Lantau is the largest island.

Government structure: the Chief Executive heads the HKSAR; the Security Bureau is the policy bureau overseeing the FSD; the Legislative Council enacts laws.

Emergency numbers: 999 for police, fire, and ambulance; the FSD also operates a 1823 citizen hotline for non-emergency enquiries.