QFD Firefighter Aptitude flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Main idea

The central claim that the entire passage supports. It must cover all major parts of the text, unlike a detail that supports only one section.

Inference versus statement

A stated fact appears directly in the text. An inference is a conclusion the text logically forces but does not say outright.

Contrast signal words

Words such as but, however, yet, and although. They mark a shift in direction and usually point to the author's emphasized point.

Scope error

An answer choice that is broader or narrower than the passage's stated claim. It is incorrect even when the statement is factually true.

Analogy relationship direction

The order of the pair matters. If the stem runs whole to part, the correct answer must also run whole to part, not the reverse.

Necessary versus sufficient condition

A necessary condition must hold in every case. A sufficient condition alone guarantees the outcome without other requirements.

Odd-item classification

The item lacking a property shared by all the others is the outlier. Unfamiliarity alone does not make an item the odd one out.

Percent change formula

Percent change equals the new value minus the old value, divided by the old value, times one hundred.

Combined work rate

When workers act together, their rates add. Total time t satisfies 1/t = 1/a + 1/b for individual times a and b.

Distance rate time

Distance equals rate multiplied by time. Rearranged, rate equals distance divided by time and time equals distance divided by rate.

Unit cancellation

Multiply by conversion fractions equal to one so unwanted units cancel. This keeps hose, flow, and pressure calculations dimensionally correct.

Lever equilibrium

Effort force times effort arm equals load force times load arm. Lengthening the effort arm lowers the force required to lift the load.

Three lever classes

Class one places the fulcrum between effort and load. Class two places the load in the middle. Class three places the effort in the middle.

Movable pulley advantage

A movable pulley supported by n rope segments divides the load by n to give the effort force, ignoring friction and rope weight.

Meshed gear rotation

Two gears in mesh rotate in opposite directions. A larger driven gear turns more slowly and delivers greater torque.

Hydrostatic pressure with depth

Pressure in a fluid equals density times gravity times depth. Pressure rises with depth and acts equally in all directions at one depth.

Water weight constants

Water weighs about 8.34 pounds per gallon and 62.4 pounds per cubic foot. These values support hose weight and head pressure estimates.

Rotation versus reflection

Rotation preserves shape, size, and handedness. Reflection reverses orientation, so a mirrored figure cannot be produced by rotation alone.

Fold and punch reversal

Unfold in reverse order, mirroring the hole pattern across each crease. Each fold doubles the number of holes in the final sheet.

Cube net opposite faces

On a cube net, opposite faces never share an edge. Identify opposite pairs first, then test which faces can meet at an edge.

Hidden cube support

A cube resting above the base requires cubes beneath it. Counting visible cubes alone undercounts the total in a stacked structure.

Emergency priority order

Respond in this order: personal and crew safety, civilian safety, property protection, then documentation and reporting after the incident.

Closed-loop communication

The receiver repeats the order back to the sender, who confirms it. This prevents task errors when noise or stress impairs hearing.

Unlawful order response

A supervisor's directive does not authorize unsafe or illegal action. State the concern, refuse the specific act, and report it upward.

Objective documentation

Records contain observable facts, times, and quoted statements. They exclude opinions, guesses, and conclusions about another person's motives.

Reliability standard

Consistent attendance, on-time arrival, and completing assigned tasks without being prompted. It is judged by behavior, not stated intention.

Error disclosure rule

Report your own mistakes promptly and fully. Concealing a minor error turns it into a breach of trust, which carries heavier consequences.

Conflict of interest disclosure

Any personal relationship or financial interest that could bias a duty decision must be disclosed before the decision is made.

Chunking for recall

Grouping items into meaningful clusters, such as three-four-four for a phone number, expands short-term memory capacity during observation tasks.

Spacing effect

Short review sessions spread over days produce stronger long-term retention than one long study block of equal total time.

Serial position effect

Items at the start and end of a list are recalled best. Middle items fade fastest and need extra rehearsal or a distinct cue.

Observation capture order

Record people count first, then locations, then physical descriptors, then the sequence of events. This order preserves the most perishable details.