IS-242 Practice Test: Effective Communication

52 practice questions on listening, noise and bias, nonverbal cues, reaching the whole community, alerts and warnings, and giving a presentation without your knees knocking. We wrote every one from FEMA's own IS-242.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: 52 questions. Our own practice questions, written from the text of FEMA's free IS-242.c course (Effective Communication), a U.S. government work. Not FEMA's exam questions. Free.

What's on the test

10 sample questions

1. In the communication model, what is "encoding"?

   • A.Translating a message into another language
   • B.Encrypting a radio message so others cannot hear it
   • C.Writing in shorthand
   • D.Turning your thoughts into communication
   Show answer

   D. Turning your thoughts into communication

   242-1 · Communication basics · IS-242.c

2. Who is the target audience for emergency management communication?

   • A.Only English speakers
   • B.Only local officials
   • C.Only the majority of residents who speak English
   • D.Everyone who can benefit from the information
   Show answer

   D. Everyone who can benefit from the information

   242-20 · The whole community · IS-242.c

3. During an incident, how important is information to people, according to studies?

   • A.As critically important as food or water
   • B.Less important than shelter
   • C.Not important if officials are on scene
   • D.Only important after the incident
   Show answer

   A. As critically important as food or water

   242-34 · Communicating in an emergency · IS-242.c

4. You are asked to give fire evacuation steps to residents of an apartment complex. Which type of presentation is that?

   • A.Persuasive debate
   • B.Ceremonial
   • C.Informational
   • D.Motivational
   Show answer

   C. Informational

   242-46 · Oral presentations · IS-242.c

5. In the communication model, what is "noise"?

   • A.Only loud sounds in the room
   • B.Anything that reduces the clarity of the message
   • C.The speaker's accent
   • D.The feedback the listener gives back to the speaker
   Show answer

   B. Anything that reduces the clarity of the message

   242-2 · Communication basics · IS-242.c

6. Is understanding your community a one-time analysis?

   • A.No. Communities keep changing, so it is ongoing
   • B.Yes, after each census
   • C.Yes, when the emergency plan is written
   • D.No. It is done every ten years, after the census
   Show answer

   A. No. Communities keep changing, so it is ongoing

   242-21 · The whole community · IS-242.c

7. What happens when official answers are not available during an emergency?

   • A.People wait patiently for the next official update
   • B.Nothing changes
   • C.The media stops reporting
   • D.Rumor and speculation fill the vacuum
   Show answer

   D. Rumor and speculation fill the vacuum

   242-35 · Communicating in an emergency · IS-242.c

8. What is the last step in the motivational presentation approach?

   • A.Create a need for the message
   • B.Give the action step you want the audience to take
   • C.Open with an attention-getting story or a joke
   • D.List every statistic you have so no one can argue with the data
   Show answer

   B. Give the action step you want the audience to take

   242-47 · Oral presentations · IS-242.c

9. Two people understand the word "shelter" differently. What kind of noise is that?

   • A.Physiological noise
   • B.Semantic noise
   • C.Syntactical noise
   • D.Environmental noise
   Show answer

   B. Semantic noise

   242-3 · Communication basics · IS-242.c

10. Where does the course say real community conversations and decisions often happen?

    • A.Only at city council and county commission meetings, where votes happen
    • B.Community centers, block parties, social clubs, and places of worship
    • C.Only in the EOC
    • D.Only on official websites and the county's social media pages
    Show answer

    B. Community centers, block parties, social clubs, and places of worship

    242-22 · The whole community · IS-242.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.