Driven to Distraction IELTS Reading Answers

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 28-34:
The passage on the previous pages has six sections labelled A-F.

1. Section A
2. Section B
3. Section C
4. Section D
5. Section E
6. Section F

Which section contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-F in boxes 28-34 on your answer sheet.
NB: you may use any letter more than once.

28. Different driver conversations carry different accident risks.

Answer: Section D
Supporting Sentence: While that may sound surprising, there are crucial differences between a conversation with a passenger and one on a mobile, he said.
​Keywords: Different, driver, conversations, carry, different, accident, risks
Keyword Location: Section D, Line 10
Explanation: The passage mentions that the risks depend on the medium of conversation a driver is carrying out, that is to say, whether the conversation is carried out in person with the passenger or over phone call.

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29. With new in-car technologies there are new driver dangers.

Answer: Section E
Supporting Sentence: If mobile phone use has been problematic for driver distraction, the next wave of in-car technology could be worse.
Keywords: new, in-car, technologies, driver, danger
Keyword Location: Section E, Line 1
Explanation: The passage mentions that the new in-car technologies have led to new risks which include accidents due to talking on mobile phones and emailing from laptops.

30. There are different types of driver distractions, and statistics show how frequently drivers engage in them.

Answer: Section A
Supporting Sentence: Surveys for the Office of Road Safety have found that while 96 per cent of people believe reading and sending text messages is distracting, 54 per cent admit reading texts and 35 per cent have sent them while driving.
Keywords: Different, types, driver, distraction, statistics, show, frequently, engage
Keyword Location: Section A, Lines 6-9
Explanation: It is given that the drivers often engage in distracted driving by sending texts while driving or driving while reading texts. These distractions are backed by data obtained through surveys for the Office of Road Safety.

31. The role distraction plays in causing accidents can be seen from accident insurance claims.

Answer: Section C
Supporting Sentence: Identifying the exact role of distraction in crashes is difficult but the RAC's Glen Walker said people making or defending claims are quick to point out when the other driver is at fault.
Keywords: Distraction, role, causing, accident, insurance, claims
Keyword Location: Section C, Lines 1-3
Explanation: It is given that the accident insurance claims are fast to point fingers to the driver who were indulged in different types of distracted driving.

32. The relationship between driving on familiar roads and distracted driving.

Answer: Section B
Supporting Sentence: Acting Sgt Green said drivers can feel falsely confident about the road conditions, particularly on familiar routes, but an accident can occur in seconds.
Keywords: Relationship, driving, familiar, roads, distracted, driving
Keyword Location: Section B, Lines 1-3
Explanation: It is given that distraction is even possible on familiar roads as the drivers become too confident without caring to notice the road works or a pedestrian walking leading to accidents.

33. Development of in-car technology and how it could be used to block distracted driving behaviour.

Answer: Section E
Supporting Sentence: ‘There is potential down the track with in-vehicle technologies that you could block any transmission while the car is in motion,' he said.
Keywords: Development, in-car, technology, used, block, distracted, driving, behaviour
Keyword Location: Section E, Paragraph 3, Lines 5-7
Explanation: The passage mentions that the in-car technology could be completely blocked to avoid any kind of transmission. This means switching off cellphones and other devices that can cause potential accidents.

34. The results of a measured test showing the impact on driving ability of specific destructive behaviour.

Answer: Section F
Supporting Sentence: We tested the drivers against a range of distractions and every single one of them had an impact on core driving competencies, including driver attention, accuracy, lane control, speed control, hazard perception and reaction time,' Mr Meinen said.
Keywords: Results, measured test, showing, impact, driving, ability, specific, distractive, behaviour
Keyword Location: Section F, Lines 22-25
Explanation: When the assessment was conducted, it was found that even a slight distraction had an impact on the driver’s ability to drive whether it was attention, accuracy, lane control or any other that must be on point while driving.

Questions 35-40:
Do the following statements agree or disagree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 35-40 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the given information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the given information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information given on statement

35. Research shows that a driver speaking to a passenger is less dangerous than a driver speaking on a mobile phone, because the passenger will automatically moderate the conversation depending on the surrounding driving conditions.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: ‘There have been laboratory studies that have shown that if you have a driver holding a conversation with a passenger, the passenger will moderate the conversation because they are scanning the scene in front of the vehicle and they can see the situation changing for the driver,’ Professor Stevenson said.
Keywords: Research, shows, driver, speaking, passenger, less dangerous, mobile phone, automatically, moderate, conversation, surrounding, driving, condition
Keyword Location: Section D, Paragraph 2, Lines 1-5
Explanation: The passage mentions that there have been researches that conversing with a passenger is less dangerous for a driver as the passenger manages the conversation keeping in mind the route in front of the driver which cannot be done by the talker on the mobile phone. Hence, the given statement is true.

36. On a familiar route for a driver, research shows that fewer accidents happen.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

37. To encourage sales of new cars, car manufacturers constantly develop new in-car technologies (such as USB ports and wi-fi access), and researchers believe that this development could contribute to further driver distraction and higher accident rates.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: ‘The technology is developing so fast that our understanding of how much it increases our risk of crashing is not keeping up,' Professor Stevenson said.
Keywords: encourage, sales, new cars, car manufacturers, develop, in-car technologies, contribute, driver, distraction, higher, accident, rates
Keyword Location: Section E, Paragraph 2, Lines 5-7
Explanation: The passage mentions that the latest development in the cars could contribute hugely in distracting the driver which will consequently lead to higher accident rates. Hence, the given statement is true.

38. Although most people agree that the use of mobile phones while driving is distracting, nearly half admit they take calls, and around a third admit they make calls while driving.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: About 85 percent of people think mobile phone use is distracting but 46 per cent said they take calls on the road and 36 per cent concede making them.
Keywords: people, agree, use, mobile phones, driving, distracting, admit, take calls, make calls
Keyword Location: Section A, Lines 9-12
Explanation: The passage mentions that many people agree that using mobile phones while driving is distracting yet 46% agree that they receive calls and 36% admit that they make calls. Hence, the given statement is true.

39. Male drivers Engaging in distracted behaviour such as texting or talking on a phone usually change their behaviour when they see a police car next to them; however, female drivers often continue with the behaviour or don't notice the police car.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

40. A measured test showed that not every example of destructive behaviour has an impact on core driving competency.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: We tested the drivers against a range of distractions and every single one of them had an impact on core driving competencies, including driver attention, accuracy, lane control, speed control, hazard perception and reaction time,' Mr Meinen said.
Keywords: Measured test, showed, every, example, distractive, behaviour, impact, driving, competency
Keyword Location: Section F, Lines 22-25
Explanation: The passage mentions that the result of the measured test was that even a slight distraction impacted the driver’s ability to drive. Hence, the given statement is false.