Self-study
Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are, because of their weight, extremely expensive to operate but, for the same reason, in an accident they are safer for their occupants than smaller vehicles are. ████████████ ██ ████████ ██ ██████ ███████ ████████ ██████████ ███ ███ ████ ██████ ███████ ██ ████████ ████ ███ ██████████ ██████████ ██ ████ ██ ██ ████████ ██████
"Surprising" Phenomenon
After analyzing recent traffic fatality statistics, why are auto safety experts worried about the increasing popularity of SUVs, even though SUVs are safer for their occupants in accidents than smaller vehicles?
Objective
The correct answer should provide some key information about one or more unaddressed negative effects of SUVs in traffic accidents to explain why SUV popularity is worrisome. While SUVs may be safer for their own occupants, they could be less safe overall by posing a danger to other drivers, passengers in other vehicles, pedestrians, or others involved in accidents.
6.
Which one of the following, ██ █████ ████ █████ ██ ███████ ███ ███ ████████ ██ ████ ██████ ███████ ██ ███ ██████████ ██ █████
a
Vehicles with a ██████████ ███ █████ █████ ████ ██████ ████ ██ ██ ██████ ████ █████████ ████ █████ █████████
This highlights another positive effect of SUVs, rather than a negative effect. It undermines the auto safety experts’ conclusion even further by saying that SUVs are not only safer for their occupants but are also driven more carefully than other vehicles.
b
Vehicles with a ████ ███████ ████ ███████████ ████ ████ █████ ████ ██████ ███████████
We don’t know if there’s any connection between tank capacity and safety. Thus, (B) doesn’t show a negative effect of SUVs in accidents or explain why they might be dangerous to someone other than SUV occupants.
c
Recent statistics suggest ████ █████ ████████ ████ ██ ████ ████ ██ █████ ████ ██████████ ████ ███████ ████████ ███
We can’t assume that carrying more passengers reduces safety; in fact, we already know that SUV passengers are safer in accidents. We need information on how SUVs negatively affect other people in accidents to explain why their popularity is concerning.
d
Recent statistics suggest ████ ███ ███████ ██████ ██ ██████████ ██ ██████████ ███████ ████ ███ ███████ ████████ ██ ██████ ████ ███ █████ ███████████
This provides a previously unaddressed negative effect of SUVs in accidents, showing they can be dangerous to people in other vehicles. Since fatalities are higher in crashes between SUVs and smaller vehicles, the growing popularity of SUVs is concerning.
e
Recent statistics suggest ████ ████ ███ ██ ██████ ██ ██ ████████ ██ ██████████ ██ ███████ ████████ ████
This doesn't show a negative effect of SUVs on the safety of others in accidents. Even if SUVs are as likely as other cars to be in accidents, we know SUV occupants are safer, so (E) doesn’t explain the experts’ concern.