AKALILY SOFIENA BINTI AZMI

Name: …………………………………………….
2020475656
ID No: ……………………………………………..
AP1162B
Group: …………………………………………….

READING COMPREHENSION
PASSAGE 1
Read the passage and answer the questions.
I Road accidents are increasing day by day and it appears that they will continue
to soar. Malaysia would record a staggering death rate on the road by the time
we reach the developed nation status in 2020. According to the latest research
on Predicting Malaysian Road Fatalities for Year 2020 by the Malaysian Institute
of Road Safety Research (MIROS), it is predicted that road fatalities in Malaysia 5
will be 8,760 for the year 2015 and 70,716 for 2020.

II Many road accidents are caused by human error, as numerous studies have
proven that driver error contributes as high as B0%o of all fatal and injury-related
road accidents. On the other hand, vehicle malfunction is seldom linked to road
accidents. There are a number of offences that drivers commit which can be 10
extremely dangerous to oneself, one's passengers as well as to other road users.
Many die as a consequence of speeding, intoxication and overtaking when
behind the wheels.

III Speed is one of the main contributing factors to road deaths in many countries.
It is estimated that around 400 people are killed each year in road accidents 15
which involve drivers who exceed the speed limit. Many drivers do not know that
a difference of 5 kilometres per hour in speed can make a huge difference
between life and death. Even at 30 kilometres per hour, if hit, can be fatal, to a
pedestrian.

IV Speed has also been identified as the key risk factor in road traffic injuries, 20
influencing both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of injuries that
result from crashes. Inappropriate speed can also be responsible for high
mortality rate. Inappropriate speed is defined as driving at a speed unsuitable for
the prevailing road and traffic conditions. It can be either driving at excessive
speed or driving slower than the normal speed limit on the right lane. The latter 25
is known as road hogging, which can cause severe road accidents as well as
cases of tailgating and other events of road bullying.

V Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs are two extremely
dangerous driving conditions which frequently meet fatal ends. Drivers with high
blood alcohol content or concentration are at great risk of car accidents. This is 30
because the presence of alcohol in one's bloodstream affects driving-related
skills, such as vision, reaction time, judgement and the ability to divide attention.
Studies have also shown that the total number of fatal road accidents that occur
when the driver is under the influence of alcohol is 38%o of all road accident
tragedies. 35

VI Similarly, drivers who are under the influence of drugs are also responsible for
causing fatal road go crashes. These drivers suffer from slower reaction time,

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 Name: …………………………………………….
ID No: ……………………………………………..
Group: …………………………………………….

erratic and aggressive behaviour, the inability to concentrate properly, nausea,

hallucinations, panic attacks, paranoia, dizziness and fatigue.

VII Overtaking is one of the highest risk manoeuvres because it can put the 40
overtaking vehicle into the path of oncoming traffic, often at high speeds. An
accident is imminent if mistakes are made when overtaking. We cannot deny the
fact that these mistakes claim a large number of victims. Impatience,
carelessness and fatigue are contributing factors that can lead to a driver making
mistakes when overtaking other vehicles, causing detrimental effects on the 45
road.

VIII Not looking properly before pulling out is another error which drivers often commit
when overtaking. Most vehicles have a 'blind spot' which may be big enough to
block a motorbike or a small car from the driver's view. It does not need to be
long; a moment will do for a driver to miss the other vehicle blocked by this blind 50
spot and result in a tragedy.

IX Another mistake that drivers make is overtaking a vehicle as they are

approaching a blind bend. Drivers are exposed to danger as they are not able to
predict what lies ahead on the other lane-it may be a loaded fuel tanker or a
harmless cyclist whose life may be in peril due to the carelessness and 55
irresponsible attitude of another party on the road.

X To address these concerns, there are a few simple preventive measures that
drivers ought to practise in their effort to reduce the number of road accidents.
Controlling the speed of your vehicle can help to prevent crashes from occurring
and reduce the impact on the victims, consequently causing less severe injuries. 60
Additionally, drunk drivers who survive road crashes should be given severe
punishment for the lives they have claimed. Finally, drivers should practise safe
overtaking. You should not overtake unless you are really sure you can complete
the manoeuvre safely, without causing risk or inconvenience to other road users
or yourself. 65

1. What do the following words and phrases refer to?

a. that (line 8) driver error
: …………………………………………………………….
road hagging
b. The latter (line 25) : …………………………………………………………….
c. which (line 29) drunk driving and driving under the influence
: …………………………………………………………….
overtaking
d. the fact (line 41) : …………………………………………………………….
drivers
e. their (line 57) : …………………………………………………………….

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 Name: …………………………………………….
ID No: ……………………………………………..
Group: …………………………………………….

2. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage.

shocking
a. staggering (line 2) : …………………………………………………………….
b. fatal (line 8) deadly
: …………………………………………………………….
unsuitable
c. Inappropriate (line 23): …………………………………………………………….
d. imminent (line 41) close
: …………………………………………………………….
e. address (line 56) deal
: …………………………………………………………….

3. State whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
a. A vehicle as slow as 30 kilometres per hour can cause death
to someone walking along the road. (T )
b. Road hogging, tailgating and road bullying are instances of
excessive speeding. (T )
c. Drunk drivers and drivers under the influence of drugs have
concentration issue. (F )
d. Blind spots are faced solely by car drivers. (F )
e. A blind bend is the cause for blind spots. (T )

4. Read the statements carefully. Write F for a Fact and O for an Opinion.
a. ... it is predicted that road fatalities in Malaysia will be 8,760
O
for the year 2015 and 10,716 for 2020. (lines 5-6) ………..
b. ... numerous studies have proven that driver error contributes
as high as 80% of all fatal and injury-related road accidents.
F
(lines 7-8) ………..
c. An accident is imminent if mistakes are made when
F
overtaking. (lines 40-41) ………..
d. Additionally, drunk drivers who survive road crashes should
be given severe punishment for the lives they have claimed.
O
(lines 60-61) ………..

5. The discourse marker 'On the other hand' (line 7), links two ideas. What are these
ideas?
many road accidents are caused by human error
a. First idea: ………………………………………………………………………….
vehicle malfunction is seldom linked to roadaccidents
b. Second idea: ………………………………………………………………………

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 Name: …………………………………………….
ID No: ……………………………………………..
Group: …………………………………………….

6. What is the main idea of paragraph IV?

spped has also been identified as the key risk factor in road traffic injuries , influencing
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of injuries that result from crashes.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. Why do drivers with high blood alcohol content face great accident risks?
This is because the presence of alcohol in one's bloodstream affects driving-related skills,
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
such as vision , reaction time,judgement and the ability to divide attention.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. What are the causes of drivers making mistakes while overtaking?

Impatience, carelessness and fatigue . Not looking properly before pulling out is another
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
error which drivers often commitwhen overtaking.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. In the last paragraph, the writer highlights the preventing road accidents.
a. Who is this party?
drivers
……………………………………………………………………………………….
b. What are the steps that should be taken by the parry?
controlling the speed of your vehicle can help to prevent crashes from occuringation
……………………………………………………………………………………….

10. 'You should not overtake unless you are really sure you can complete the manoeuvre
safely, without causing risk or inconvenience to other road users or yourself? (lines
51-53).
The writer's tone can be described as …………………………
A. critical
✔ cautious
B.
C. threatening
D. reprimanding