| YES | if the statement agrees with the views of the writer |
| NO | if the statement contradicts the views of the writer |
| NOT GIVEN | if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this |
How Safe Are Air Bags?
Statistics have begun to accumulate on the side effects of air bags. A recent University of North Carolina (UNC) study reported that 60 per cent of driver’s-side air bag deployments have resulted in injuries from the air bag. A report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicated that air bags caused injuries in 23 per cent of 1,200 crashes in which the bags were deployed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 25,000 people were injured by air bags in 66,000 deployments between 1988 and 1991, an injury rate of 38 per cent.
No matter whose statistics are most accurate, the devices clearly are not feather pillows. To prevent the occupant from hitting the car’s interior, they must inflate quickly, in about a twentieth of a second. When the air bag deploys, it contacts the occupant’s head, face, chest, and arms. In a study done by IIHS, 96 per cent of the injuries attributed to air bags weren’t life-threatening, but were concussions, cuts, sprains, broken bones, and lacerations. 6 per cent involved the occupant’s eyes; 3 people required eye surgery. That’s because air bags inflate faster than the eye can blink. The other injuries recorded by IIHS were viewed as moderate threats to life and were probably less severe than injuries that would have occurred without an air bag.
Those who have been protected by air bags are impressed by them. In the UNC study, 96 per cent of drivers who had been in an accident in a car with an air bag said they wanted one in their next car.
Yet, NHTSA has reported a handful of moderate crashes in which occupants apparently were killed by air bags. In most cases, the driver was too close to the steering wheel or the passenger was unbelted when the bag deployed.
A car’s structural design greatly effects the way the air bag must be deployed. GM, for example, uses a soft front structure and progressive deformation of the car body to delay and reduce the energy pulse reaching the occupants. This strategy allows sensors to detect the collision early and inflate the air bags relatively slowly. Aggressive inflation increases the chances of an air bag injury, explained Mitchell Scherba, director of crash performance at GM. “We put more engineering into sensing the accident so we can use less aggressive inflators,” he said
Until the mid-1970s, safety engineers at Mercedes-Benz also used a soft structure to absorb head-on impacts. But Mercedes discovered that 75 per cent of collisions classified as head-on crashes actually involved only a partial overlap between the vehicles. In the early 1980s, they began designing their cars with rigid front structures to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment in these offset frontal crashes.
Unfortunately, the rigid structure quickly transmits the crash pulse to the passenger compartment, making aggressive air bag inflation necessary. In a 1992 NHTSA study, the peak speed of a deploying Mercedes air bag was 167 mph versus 98 mph and 112 mph for two GM air bags. Mercedes acknowledges the increased risk of air bag injuries from rapid inflation, but claims its concerns for offset crash protection are of greater importance. “We will never be the best in full frontal tests because they poorly represent the real world," said Tom Bologa, manager of safety engineering for Mercedes-Benz North America. “We will not give up our position as promoters of offset crash testing.” Most other manufacturers fall between Mercedes and GM in front stiffness and air bag speeds. And GM has lately begun building stiffer structures.
How can you reduce your chances of an air bag injury? First and foremost, wear your seat-belt. GM calculates that belts are 42 per cent effective at preventing fatalities; air bags alone are only 21 per cent effective. Used together, belts and air bags are 47 per cent effective. Seat-belts also lessen the chance of violent contact with the deploying air bag.
Experts from General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, and Mercedes all advise giving an air bag room to inflate. Front-seat passengers should move the seat as far back as they can while keeping the seat-belt low, over the strongest part of the pelvis.
On the driver’s side, less space is available between the driver and the air bag housed in the steering wheel. Mercedes-Benz's Bologa recommends you try to sit at least eight to twelve inches from the wheel. For people with short arms, this can be a problem. “Smaller, shorter people are at higher risk than larger people,” agreed GM spokesman Dick Thompson. GM researcher Scherba offered: “I tell my wife, make sure the seat-belt is tight, and sit as far back as you can and still comfortably control the car.”
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Writer reports expert advice and supports it with recommendations about seating position.
Correct Answer: YES
Why this is correct: The writer clearly reports and supports expert advice. The experts advise giving an air bag room to inflate and recommend move the seat as far back as they can, which matches the statement.
Passage Reference: Experts from General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, and Mercedes all advise giving an air bag room to inflate. Front-seat passengers should move the seat as far back as they can while keeping the seat-belt low, over the strongest part of the pelvis. On the driver's side, less space is available between the driver and the air bag housed in the steering wheel. Mercedes-Benz's Bologa recommends you try to sit at least eight to twelve inches from the wheel.
Common Mistake: NOT GIVEN - Not Given trap. Students think advice is just factual reporting, but here the writer clearly presents expert recommendations.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'move the seat as far back as they can' = Statement: 'sitting as far back from the dashboard as you comfortably can'
Tips: When experts are quoted giving advice and the writer includes it without doubt, this usually signals YES.
Key Vocabulary:
- advise = recommend
- inflate = fill with air
Question Focus: Writer shows disagreement and variation in statistics, not close agreement.
Correct Answer: NO
Passage Reference: Statistics have begun to accumulate on the side effects of air bags. A recent University of North Carolina (UNC) study reported that 60 per cent of driver's-side air bag deployments have resulted in injuries from the air bag. A report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicated that air bags caused injuries in 23 per cent of 1,200 crashes in which the bags were deployed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 25,000 people were injured by air bags in 66,000 deployments between 1988 and 1991, an injury rate of 38 per cent.
Why this is correct: The writer presents very different figures like 60 per cent, 23 per cent, and 38 per cent. This clearly shows experts do not closely agree, so the writer disagrees with the statement.
Common Mistake: YES - Contradiction trap. Students see many statistics and assume agreement, but the numbers clearly conflict.
Paraphrasing: Passage: '60 per cent ... 23 per cent ... 38 per cent' = Statement: 'close agreement concerning the rate of injury'
Tips: If the passage shows different numbers from different sources, that usually means disagreement.
Key Vocabulary:
- indicated = showed
- estimates = roughly calculates
Question Focus: Writer explains that most injuries were NOT serious.
Correct Answer: NO
Passage Reference: In a study done by IIHS, 96 per cent of the injuries attributed to air bags weren't life-threatening, but were concussions, cuts, sprains, broken bones, and lacerations. 6 per cent involved the occupant's eyes; 3 people required eye surgery.
Why this is correct: The writer clearly says 96 per cent of the injuries weren't life-threatening, which is the opposite of serious injuries. This directly contradicts the statement.
Common Mistake: YES - Reverse meaning trap. Students see 96 per cent and miss the negative wording 'weren't life-threatening'.
Paraphrasing: Passage: '96 per cent ... weren't life-threatening' = Statement: '96% ... caused serious injuries'
Tips: Always read carefully after percentages. The key meaning often comes after the number.
Key Vocabulary:
- life-threatening = deadly
- lacerations = deep cuts
Question Focus: Same claim repeated. Writer clearly contradicts it again.
Correct Answer: NO
Passage Reference: In a study done by IIHS, 96 per cent of the injuries attributed to air bags weren't life-threatening, but were concussions, cuts, sprains, broken bones, and lacerations. The other injuries recorded by IIHS were viewed as moderate threats to life and were probably less severe than injuries that would have occurred without an air bag.
Why this is correct: Again, the writer stresses injuries were weren't life-threatening and often less severe than without air bags. This clearly disagrees with the statement.
Common Mistake: NOT GIVEN - Contradiction trap. The writer does give an opinion, and it is the opposite.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'weren't life-threatening ... less severe' = Statement: 'caused serious injuries'
Tips: If the same statement appears twice, answer it the same way using the same evidence.
Key Vocabulary:
- moderate = not severe
- attributed to = caused by
Question Focus: Writer reports strong positive opinion from drivers.
Correct Answer: YES
Passage Reference: Those who have been protected by air bags are impressed by them. In the UNC study, 96 per cent of drivers who had been in an accident in a car with an air bag said they wanted one in their next car.
Why this is correct: The writer reports that 96 per cent of drivers wanted an air bag again. 96 per cent is more than 19 out of 20, so the writer supports this view.
Common Mistake: NO - Paraphrase trap. Students fail to convert percentages into fractions.
Paraphrasing: Passage: '96 per cent of drivers ... wanted one in their next car' = Statement: 'more than 19 out of 20 ... are satisfied'
Tips: Practice converting percentages to simple fractions during the exam.
Key Vocabulary:
- impressed = pleased
- protected = kept safe
Question Focus: Writer minimizes the number by using opinion language.
Correct Answer: YES
Passage Reference: Yet, NHTSA has reported a handful of moderate crashes in which occupants apparently were killed by air bags. In most cases, the driver was too close to the steering wheel or the passenger was unbelted when the bag deployed.
Why this is correct: The writer uses the phrase a handful of moderate crashes, which clearly shows the number is very small. This supports the statement.
Common Mistake: NOT GIVEN - Extreme language trap. Students think 'extremely small' is too strong, but 'a handful' clearly signals this opinion.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'a handful of moderate crashes' = Statement: 'extremely small number of accidents'
Tips: Opinion words like 'a handful' often show the writer's judgment about quantity.
Key Vocabulary:
- handful = very few
- apparently = seemingly
General Tips:
- Yes/No/Not Given tests the WRITER'S VIEW, not just facts. Always ask: does the writer agree, disagree, or stay silent?
- Percentages are often traps. Read the explanation around the number carefully.
- Different statistics from different sources usually signal disagreement.
- Statements follow passage order. Use the last answer's location to find the next one faster.
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