Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys available during the boot sequence of OS X on Intel based macs although some shortcuts also work on PPC.
Shamelessly ripped off apple’s documentation article:
Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs.

KeystrokeDescription
Press C during startupStart up from a bootable CD or DVD, such as the Mac OS X Install disc that came with the computer.
Press D during startupStart up in Apple Hardware Test (AHT), if the Install DVD 1 is in the computer.
Press Option-Command-P-R until you hear two beeps. Reset NVRAM
Press Option during startup Starts into Startup Manager, where you can select a Mac OS X volume to start from. Note: Press N to make the the first bootable Network volume appear as well.
Press Eject, F12, or hold the mouse (/trackpad) button Ejects any removable media, such as an optical disc.
Press N during startupAttempt to start up from a compatible network server (NetBoot).
Press T during startupStart up in FireWire Target Disk mode.
Press Shift during startupStart up in Safe Boot mode and temporarily disable login items.
Press Command-V during startupStart up in Verbose mode.
Press Command-S during startupStart up in Single-User mode.
Press Option-N during startup Start from a NetBoot server using the default boot image.

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