The motor vehicle has killed and disabled more people in its brief history than any bomb or weapon ever invented. Much of the blood on the street flows essentially from uncivil behavior of drivers who refuse to respect the legal and moral rights of others. So the massacre on the road may be regarded as a social problem.
In fact, the enemies of society on wheels are rather harmless people or ordinary people acting carelessly, you might say. But it is a principle both of law and common morality that carelessness is no excuse when one's actions could bring death or damage to others. A minority of the killers go even beyond carelessness to total negligence.
Researchers have estimated that as many as 80 per cent of all automobile accidents can be attributed to the psychological condition of the driver. Emotional upsets can distort drivers' reactions, slow their judgment, and blind them to dangers that might otherwise be evident. The experts warn that it is vital for every driver to make a conscious effort to keep one's emotions under control.
Yet the irresponsibility that accounts for much of the problem is not confined to drivers. Street walkers regularly violate traffic regulations; they are at fault in most vehicle walker accidents. And many cyclists even believe that they are not subject to the basic rules of the road.
Significant legal advances have been made towards safer driving in the past few years. Safety standards for vehicle have been raised both at the point of manufacture and through periodic road-worthiness inspections. In addition, speed limits have been lowered. Due to these measures, the accident rate has decreased. But the accident experts still worry because there has been little or no improvement in the way drivers behave. The only real and lasting solution, say the experts, is to convince people that driving is a skilled task requiring constant care and concentration. Those who fail to do all these things pose a threat to those with whom they share the road.
1. The word “massacre” in line 3 paragraph one means _____
A) mass-killing.
B) disaster.
C) tragedy.
D) accident.
答案：A
2. What is the author's main purpose in writing the passage?
A) To show that the motor vehicle is a very dangerous invention.
B) To promote understanding between careless drivers and street walkers.
C) To discuss traffic problems and propose possible solutions.
D) To warn drivers of the importance of safe driving.
答案：C
3. According to the passage, traffic accidents may be regarded as a social problem because _____.
A) autos have become most destructive to mankind
B) people usually pay little attention to law and morality
C) civilization brings much harm to people
D) the lack of virtue is becoming more severe
答案：B
4. Why does the author mention the psychological c
ondition of the driver in Paragraph Three?
A) To give an example of the various reasons for road accidents.
B) To show how important it is for drivers to be emotionally healthy.
C) To show some of the inaccurate estimations by researchers.
D) To illustrate the hidden tensions in the course of driving.
答案：B
5. Who are NOT mentioned as being responsible for the road accidents?
A) Careless bicycle-riders.
B) Mindless people walking in the street.
C) Irresponsible drivers.
D) Irresponsible manufactures of automobiles.
答案：D
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