A
Maybe ten-year-old Elizabeth put it best when she said to her father, “But, Dad, you can’t be healthy if you’re dead.”
Dad, in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run, had forgotten to wear his safety belt — a mistake 75% of the US population make every day. The big question is why.
There have been many myths about safety belts ever since their first appearance in cars some forty years ago. The following are three of the most common.
Myth Number One: It’s best to be “thrown clear” of a serious accident.
Truth: Sorry, but any accident serious enough to “throw you clear” is also going to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing. And chances of dying after a car accident are twenty-five times greater in cases where people are “thrown clear.”
Myth Number Two: Safety belts “trap” people in cars that are burning or sinking in water.
Truth: Sorry again, but studies show that people knocked unconscious due to not wearing safety belts have a greater chance of dying in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having a clear head to free themselves from such dangerous situations, not to be trapped in them.
Myth Number Three: Safety belts aren’t needed at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour (mph).
Truth: When two cars traveling at 30 mph hit each other, an unbelted driver would meet the windshield with a force equal to diving headfirst into the ground from a height of 10 meters.
21
The reason Father was in a hurry to get home was that he ________.
A. wasn’t feeling very well. B. hated to drive in the dark.
C. wanted to take some exercise. D. didn’t want to be caught by the police.
22. According to the text, to be “thrown clear” of a serious accident is very dangerous because you ________.
A. may be knocked down by other cars
B. may get seriously hurt being thrown out of the car
C. may find it impossible to get away from the seat
D. may get caught in the car door
23. Some people prefer to drive without wearing a safety belt because they believe ________ .
A. the belt prevents them from escaping in an accident
B. they will be unable to think clearly in an accident
C. they will be caught when help comes
D. cars catch fire easily
【答案】21. C 22. B 23. A
【解析】
【分析】本文是一篇议论文。文章论述了对安全带的三个误解。
【21题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Dad, in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run, had forgotten to wear his safety belt — a mistake 75% of the US population make every day.(爸爸，急匆匆地在天黑前赶回家，以便他能出去跑步，却忘了系安全带——这是75%的美国人每天犯的一个错误)”可知，父亲着急回家的原因是他想做些运动。故选C。
【22题详解】
细节理解题。根据第五段中的“Truth: Sorry, but any accident serious enough to “throw you clear” is also going to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing.(真相：抱歉，但任何足以“把你扔出去”的严重事故也会严重到给你一个非常糟糕的着陆)”可知，在一场严重事故中被“被扔出去”是非常危险的，因为被抛出汽车可能会严重受伤。故选B。
【23题详解】
细节理解题。根据第六段中的“Myth Number Two: Safety belts “trap” people in cars that are burning or sinking in water.(误解二：安全带将人“困”在燃烧或沉入水中的汽车里)”可知，有些人喜欢开车不系安全带，因为他们相信安全带可以防止他们在事故中逃脱。故选A。
