IS-240 Practice Test: Leadership and Influence

58 practice questions on fostering leaders, situational leadership styles, the Johari Window, the Ladder of Inference, leading change, building and rebuilding trust, influence and political savvy. We wrote every one from FEMA's own IS-240.c course text, so you learn the material instead of memorizing an answer list. Practice tests are 25 questions at FEMA's 75% pass mark.

The real test: 25 questions. 19 right (76%) passes.

Here: 58 questions. Our own practice questions, written from the text of FEMA's free IS-240.c course (Leadership and Influence), a U.S. government work. Not FEMA's exam questions. Free.

What's on the test

10 sample questions

1. What separates successful emergency response organizations, according to the course?

   • A.They make full use of the "intellectual capital" of all their members
   • B.They rely on a few strong leaders at the top
   • C.They have the biggest budgets and the newest equipment
   • D.They avoid working with outside partners
   Show answer

   A. They make full use of the "intellectual capital" of all their members

   240-1 · Fostering a leadership environment · IS-240.c

2. What can ineffective leadership in emergency management cost?

   • A.Only the leader's own job, not anyone else's
   • B.Only staff morale
   • C.Public trust, property, or worse
   • D.Nothing during planning; it only matters in response
   Show answer

   C. Public trust, property, or worse

   240-11 · Leadership in emergency management · IS-240.c

3. Paradigms are mental models. When do they cause problems?

   • A.Whenever we use them at all
   • B.When we think ours is the only paradigm
   • C.Only at home, not at work
   • D.Only when we are tired
   Show answer

   B. When we think ours is the only paradigm

   240-16 · Leadership from within · IS-240.c

4. Do the stages of the change process happen in a strict order?

   • A.Yes, and you cannot go back to an earlier stage once you leave it
   • B.No. It is not linear; you often work in several stages at once
   • C.No. There are no stages; change just happens on its own once it is announced
   • D.Yes. Always in order, and you cannot move to the next stage until the last one is done
   Show answer

   B. No. It is not linear; you often work in several stages at once

   240-32 · Facilitating change · IS-240.c

5. Can trust be ordered into existence?

   • A.Yes, by rank
   • B.No. It cannot be mandated; it must be earned
   • C.Yes, with a written policy
   • D.No. It comes automatically with a leader's title and rank
   Show answer

   B. No. It cannot be mandated; it must be earned

   240-38 · Building and rebuilding trust · IS-240.c

6. In which direction is the emergency manager influencing when working with the media, the public and businesses?

   • A.Outward
   • B.Downward
   • C.Laterally
   • D.Upward
   Show answer

   A. Outward

   240-45 · Personal influence · IS-240.c

7. Where does the term "political savvy" come from?

   • A.Old English for "clever trader"
   • B.Latin for "the citizens" and French for "to understand": the ability to know the people
   • C.A FEMA acronym
   • D.Greek for "winning elections" and Latin for "the people in charge": the art of getting your way
   Show answer

   B. Latin for "the citizens" and French for "to understand": the ability to know the people

   240-52 · Political savvy · IS-240.c

8. What does "leading up" mean?

   • A.Going over your boss's head
   • B.Leading only the people above you on the org chart, and leaving your own team to manage itself
   • C.Supporting your organization's leaders by anticipating pitfalls that could hurt success
   • D.Asking for a promotion
   Show answer

   C. Supporting your organization's leaders by anticipating pitfalls that could hurt success

   240-2 · Fostering a leadership environment · IS-240.c

9. How does the course define a leader?

   • A.Whoever writes the plan
   • B.The person with the most years on the job
   • C.Anyone with a management title
   • D.Someone who sets direction and influences people to follow it
   Show answer

   D. Someone who sets direction and influences people to follow it

   240-12 · Leadership in emergency management · IS-240.c

10. In situational leadership, which style is the least directive and least supportive, best for experienced people who work independently?

    • A.Directing
    • B.Supporting
    • C.Delegating
    • D.Coaching
    Show answer

    C. Delegating

    240-17 · Leadership from within · IS-240.c

What the study guide does

• Short study rounds and flip cards.
• A practice test built like the real one: 25 questions, 19 to pass.
• Pass Meter: your chance of passing if you sat the test today, worked out from your own answers.
• An explanation for every answer.