Nearly 54 million cars and trucks in the United States are equipped with driver side air bags located in the center of the steering wheel. 24 million also have a passenger-side device located in the dashboard. Air bags are designed to protect against sudden, fierce frontal highway impacts.
Five years ago evidence of serious air-bag injuries began to surface. Drivers in minor fender benders suffered severe eye and ear injuries, broken bones and third-degree burns from the force of the inflating bags. In December 1991 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advised parents to avoid putting rear-facing infant sets in front of air bags, acknowledging that the force of the explosive bag could harm infants, whose heads were only inches away from the devices.
Last October it was determined that all children 12 and under were more susceptible to injury and death than adults; their more fragile bodies were seated lower, increasing the impact of the air bag to the head area. In addition, more children were not properly restrained or were out of position when the air bag inflated. On November 22, 1996, after nearly 60 deaths and thousands of injuries were attributed to the devices, the NHTSA mandated improved labels for all new vehicles, warning of the risk to children under 13. Despite these problems, officials stress the overall effectiveness of these devices. “All in all, air bags work well and are responsible for an 11 percent reduction in driver fatalities,” says NHTSA Administrator Dr. Ricardo Martinez. “First and foremost, make sure you’re properly buckled up before getting on the road,” says Brain O’Neill, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Keep in mind how close you sit to an air bag. Push seats as far back as possible, remaining just close enough to control the pedals. Your face and torso should be at least ten to 12 inches from the steering column. “It’s not a bad idea actually to measure the distance with a ruler to be sure.” adds O’Neill.
Adjustable steering wheels should be pointed toward the chest rather than the head to prevent inflating bag from damaging the face or neck. Also, position hands at nine o’clock and three o’clock on the wheel to keep your arms away from an opening air bag.
Pregnant women in particular should keep their abdomen as distant from the air bag as possible. In the final trimester, women should point adjustable steering wheels upward, away from their fetus.
Perhaps most important, children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat, buckled up.
1 From the passage, we learned that ____.
A) there are 24 million cars and trucks in the United States
B) there are 78 million cars and trucks in the United States
C) there are 24 million cars and trucks equipped with air-bags in the United States
D) there are 78 million cars and trucks equipped with air-bags in the United States
2 The air bags are ____.
A) safety devices which can protect people from being hurt during highway accidents
B) unsafe devices which hurt many people
C) safety devices which saved 11% American drivers
D) safety devices but need to be improved
3 The air-bag is located in the center of the steering wheel, so you should ____.
A) keep in mind how close you sit to an air bag
B) push the front seat as far back as possible, remaining just close enough to control the pedal
C) keep your face and torso at least 10 to 12 inches from the steering column
D) all of the above
4 Adjustable steering wheels should ____.
A) be pointed toward the chest rather than the head
B) be driven at 9 o clock
C) be driven at 3 o clock
D) keep your arms away from an opening air bag
5 The air bag is a good safety device, but children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat buckled up means ____.
A) air bags are no good for children
B) air bags are only good for the parents who have more than 12 children
C) the best position for children to ride a car is in the back seat and be buckled up
D) the front seat is unsafe for young people
在美国有七千八百万汽车和卡车上装有防护气囊，用来缓解猛烈的正面冲击。五年前严重的防护气囊事故开始出现，去年十月测定出 12 岁以下的孩子比成人更容易伤亡， 1996 年 11 月近 60 人死亡几千人受伤都归于防护气囊装置。但总的说来，这种装置还是有用的，使司机死亡率减少了 11% 。所以公路安全保险部门告诫人们上路之前一定要系好安全带，不要坐得太靠前，只要刚好能踩着油门就可以了。可调方向盘应对准胸前而不是头部，孕妇尤其要近可能使腹部远离防护气囊， 12 岁以下的孩子应该系上安全带坐在后座。
1 答案 D 。
【试题分析】 此题考查对文章头两句的理解。
【详细解答】 因为有 2400 万辆车在乘客座位前也安装了防护气囊，其它几个选择不符合题意。
2 答案 D 。
【试题分析】 此题考查对全文的综合理解。
【详细解答】 因为防护气囊的确是有待更进一步完善的保安装置。
3 答案 D 。
【参考译文】 防护气囊位于方向盘的中央，所以司机应该……
【试题分析】 此题考查对段意的理解。
【详细解答】 根据文章第四段的大意可知 A 、 B 、 C 均为应注意的事项，因此选 D 。
4 答案 A 。
【参考译文】 可调试的盘应该对准前胸而不是头部。
【试题分析】 此题为寻找并理解信息题。
【详细解答】 文章指出“只有这样，在车祸时，驾车人的头才能得到最有效的保护。”
见文章倒数第三段第一句、第二句，意思是把两手分别放在方向盘上 3 点钟和 9 点钟的位置以便使手臂远离开着的防护气囊。
5 答案 C 。
【参考译文】 防护气囊是安全装置，但 12 岁以下的儿童应该总是坐在后座并且系上安全带意味着……
【试题分析】 此题考查句意理解。
【详细解答】 根据文章所述观点，这是最好的保护儿童的方式。
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