Verbal Reasoning
"Tol! Vocabulary at Grammar. Mahalaga ito sa pagsulat ng spot report, incident reports, at official communications. Strong verbal skills = effective firefighter!"
1. Fire Service Vocabulary 📖
Tol, dapat alam mo ang technical terms sa fire service. Hindi lang para sa exam - kailangan mo ito sa actual duty!
Fire-Related Terms:
Conflagration - Large destructive fire
Arson - Intentional/malicious burning
Combustible - Capable of catching fire
Flammable - Easily ignited
Incendiary - Designed to cause fire
Flashover - Simultaneous ignition of materials
Backdraft - Explosive ignition from air introduction
Pyrolysis - Chemical decomposition by heat
Accelerant - Substance that speeds fire spread
Oxidizer - Substance that provides oxygen
Equipment Terms:
SCBA - Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
Nozzle - Device controlling water discharge
Halligan - Multi-purpose forcible entry tool
Aerial - Ladder truck apparatus
Pumper - Fire engine with water pump
Hydrant - Water supply connection point
Hose Lay - Deployment of fire hose
Standpipe - Building's fixed firefighting system
Operational Terms:
Ventilation - Removal of smoke/gases
Overhaul - Searching for hidden fire
Salvage - Protecting property from damage
Exposure - Property at risk from fire spread
Incident Command - Management system at scene
Staging - Area for personnel/equipment
Knockdown - Initial fire suppression
Fire Ground - Operational area at fire scene
2. Grammar Essentials ✍️
Proper grammar = credible reports. Huwag mapahiya sa mali-maling grammar sa official documents!
Subject-Verb Agreement:
| Rule | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Singular subject = singular verb | The firefighter responds quickly. | The firefighter respond quickly. |
| Plural subject = plural verb | The firefighters respond quickly. | The firefighters responds quickly. |
| Compound subjects with "and" | The hose and ladder are ready. | The hose and ladder is ready. |
| Either/or, neither/nor | Neither the captain nor the crew was injured. | Neither the captain nor the crew were injured. |
| Collective nouns | The team is responding. | The team are responding. |
Tense Consistency:
Past tense for reports: (What happened)
"The fire started at 0200H. Firefighters arrived at 0215H and extinguished the fire at 0345H."
Present tense for procedures: (What to do)
"The firefighter connects the hose to the hydrant, then opens the valve."
3. Report Writing Skills 📝
The 5 W's and 1 H:
WHO - Who was involved? (victims, witnesses, responders)
WHAT - What happened? (type of fire, cause)
WHEN - When did it occur? (date, time)
WHERE - Where did it happen? (exact location)
WHY - Why did it happen? (cause, motive)
HOW - How did it spread? (fire progression)
Sample Spot Report Format:
DATE/TIME: December 7, 2025 / 0245H
LOCATION: 123 Rizal St., Brgy. San Jose, Quezon City
TYPE OF FIRE: Structural (Residential)
ALARM: 2nd Alarm
FIRE OUT: 0445H
CASUALTIES: None
ESTIMATED DAMAGE: P500,000.00
CAUSE: Under Investigation
REMARKS: Fire originated from the kitchen area. Electrical short circuit suspected.
Writing Tips for Fire Reports:
- Use clear, concise language - avoid jargon non-firefighters won't understand
- Be objective - state facts, not opinions
- Use military time (24-hour format)
- Include exact measurements and quantities
- Document chronologically - in order of occurrence
- Avoid abbreviations unless universally understood
4. Reading Comprehension Strategies 📚
Types of Reading Questions:
1. Main Idea Questions
"What is the passage mainly about?" - Look at first and last paragraphs
2. Detail Questions
"According to the passage..." - Find specific information in text
3. Inference Questions
"It can be inferred that..." - Read between the lines
4. Vocabulary in Context
"The word ___ means..." - Use surrounding words as clues
SQ3R Reading Method:
S
Survey
Skim headings
Q
Question
Form questions
R1
Read
Read actively
R2
Recite
Summarize
R3
Review
Check understanding
5. Analogy & Word Relationships 🔗
Common Analogy Types:
| Type | Example | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Synonyms | BLAZE : FIRE :: flood : deluge | Same meaning |
| Antonyms | IGNITE : EXTINGUISH :: start : stop | Opposite meaning |
| Part to Whole | NOZZLE : HOSE :: wheel : car | Component relationship |
| Cause and Effect | FIRE : SMOKE :: rain : flood | One causes the other |
| Tool to Function | EXTINGUISHER : SUPPRESS :: hose : spray | Tool and its purpose |
| Worker to Tool | FIREFIGHTER : HALLIGAN :: carpenter : hammer | Professional and equipment |
6. Practice Questions 📋
1. Choose the correct word: "The fire _____ at 0200H and was extinguished at 0400H."
A) start B) started C) starting D) starts
View Answer
Answer: B) started - Past tense is required because the action already happened.
2. What does "conflagration" mean?
A) Small fire B) Large destructive fire C) Fire investigation D) Fire prevention
View Answer
Answer: B) Large destructive fire - A conflagration is an extensive, destructive fire that spreads over a considerable area.
3. FIREFIGHTER : HALLIGAN :: doctor : _____
A) hospital B) patient C) stethoscope D) medicine
View Answer
Answer: C) stethoscope - Worker to tool relationship. A firefighter uses a halligan; a doctor uses a stethoscope.
4. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?
A) The team of firefighters are responding. B) The team of firefighters is responding. C) The teams of firefighter is responding. D) The team of firefighter are responding.
View Answer
Answer: B) The team of firefighters is responding. - "Team" is a collective noun (singular), so it takes a singular verb "is."
5. In report writing, what does "objective" mean?
A) Writing opinions B) Writing facts without personal bias C) Writing quickly D) Writing in detail
View Answer
Answer: B) Writing facts without personal bias - Objective writing presents factual information without personal opinions or emotions.
7. Exam Strategy Tips 🎯
- 📖 Build vocabulary daily - Learn 5-10 fire service terms each day
- ✍️ Practice writing - Write sample spot reports regularly
- 📚 Read fire service materials - BFP manuals, RA 9514, fire codes
- 🔗 Master analogies - Identify relationship types quickly
- ⏱️ Time management - Don't spend too long on one question
- ✅ Review grammar rules - Subject-verb agreement is commonly tested
Test Your Knowledge! 🧠
Ready ka na ba? Take the practice quiz for Verbal Reasoning to reinforce what you just learned.
Start Practice Quiz 📝