11．Learning to drive is important to the independence of teenagers，but it is also a great responsibility．Although having a law that keeps 16-year-old drivers from having more than one teenager in the car with them seems unfair，there are convincing reasons for this requirement．
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety reports that teens are four times more likely than older drivers to be involved in an automobile accident．It also reports that 16and 17-year-old drivers are twice as likely to have an accident if they have two teenage friends in the car and four times if they have three or more teenage friends in the car with them．Fatal crashes of 16-year-old drivers involve the highest percentage of speeding，driver error，and number of passengers．This information is enough to cause any reasonable person to wonder about the wisdom of allowing new teen drivers to take a carload of friends anywhere，even if the law permits it．
A study at the National Institutes of Health indicates that the part of the human brain that controls judgment and evaluates the consequences of our actions might not be fully formed until the age of 25．Until this study，researchers had placed the age of 18．If this is true，it could explain the reckless（鲁莽的）behavior of many teens，behavior that even extends into their twenties．It could also be a strong reason for being watchful about the driving settings of young people．
This is not the only study that indicates such concern is necessary．One study at Temple University in Philadelphia examines the results of peer pressure in risky driving situations．The study，which uses a driving game，has an individual guide a car through a course，both alone and in the presence of friends．Three different age groups participated in the study：13-16，18-22，and 24and older．Members of the oldest group showed caution whether driving alone or with friends present，but the two younger groups took more chances when they were with their friends．Furthermore，because these drivers were accustomed to the noise an disturbance of many passengers，they were unable to see their own mistakes．Once again，this is a good suggestion that a law restricting the number of teenagers in the car with a young driver is a good idea．
12．What does the author mainly tell us in Paragraph 2？B
A．There are many causes behind the teen's driving accidents．
B．It's reasonable to strictly limit the passenger number of teen drivers．
C．New teen drivers have to ask permission before driving with friends．
D．Many deaths have occurred because of inexperience and overconfidence．
13．From the two studies，the author probably suggests thatD．
A．different age groups have different peer pressure
B．underdeveloped brain makes teens ignore their mistakes
C．teenagers often give wrong judgments above passengers'notice
D．driving settings are bound up with the risk of accidents
14．We can infer that the law restriction can probablyA．
A．protect teens on the highway
B．raise teens'driving skills
C．reduce the number of fatal crashes
D．force teens to drive with wisdom
15．What does"it"refer to in Paragraph 2？D
A．Number of passengers．
B．This information．
C．Wisdom．
D．Teen drivers take a carload of friends anywhere．
分析 本文围绕法律限制车内青少年的人数这一论点展开论证，通过对两个研究的分析原因，论证了法律的可行性，科学性．该法律的最终结果就是为了保护高速路上的青少年．
解答 12．B 细节理解题．从第一段最后一句"there are convincing reasons for this requirement．"说明紧接第二段将论证法律规定16岁的年轻司机车内不能载超过一个青少年的原因，这样做是合理的．故选B．
13．D 推理判断题．从第二段第一个研究中的结论"It could also be a strong reason for being watchful about the driving settings of young people．"可知，驾驶环境与事故的风险有密切联系．故选D．
14．A 推理判断题．B选项"raise teens'driving skills"提高青少年开车技能，C选项"reduce the number of fatal crashes"减少致命事故数量，D选项"force teens to drive with wisdom"使青少年用智慧驾驶，三个选项均为法律限制车内青少年的人数的直接目的，不是推断出来的，而A答案则是该法律的最终结果：保护高速路上的青少年，文章中并没提及，但可推断出来，故选A．
15．D 词义猜测题．根据这句"This information is enough to cause any reasonable person to wonder about the wisdom of allowing new teen drivers to take a carload of friends anywhere，even if the law permits it．"句意可知，即使法律允许它，这个信息也足以引起任何通情达理的人置疑这种允许青少年司机带一车朋友到任何地方的智慧，法律允许的应该是"青少年司机带一车朋友到任何地方"这件事，it指代前面提到的"teen drivers take a carload of friends anywhere"，故选D．
点评 本文围绕法律限制车内青少年的人数这一论点展开论证，通过对两个研究的分析原因，论证了法律的可行性，科学性．该法律的最终结果就是为了保护高速路上的青少年．该法律的最终结果就是为了保护高速路上的青少年．本文层次很鲜明，按议论文的写法，提出论点，分析举例论证．集中考查推理题，对于考生在上下文中理解字里行间的能力要求较高．推理判断题的答案不可能在文章中直接找到，因此推理时我们务必忠于原文，在文章中寻找并确定可推论的依据，即：已知部分-推论的前提，从中推测未知部分-推理的结论，切忌妄加评论，把自己的观点当成作者的观点．词义猜测题，要在上下文中寻找同义词或反义词，寻找同义句子或相关解释句子，从而推测正确答案．
