Which is a key criterion for the design of an automobile bumper?

A. It must absorb shock.

B. It must improve fuel efficiency.

C. It must be inexpensive to manufacture.

D. It must protect the vehicle's occupants.

I think the answer is A

I agree.

The correct answer is D. It must protect the vehicle's occupants.

To arrive at this answer, we can understand the design criteria for an automobile bumper. Bumpers are an important safety feature in automobiles, designed to protect the vehicle's occupants in the event of a collision. They are primarily intended to absorb and distribute the impact of a crash, thereby reducing the force transferred to the vehicle's occupants.

Option A, "It must absorb shock," aligns with the purpose of a bumper and is an important criterion for its design. However, it alone does not encompass the overall objective of protecting the vehicle's occupants.

Option B, "It must improve fuel efficiency," is not directly related to the purpose of the bumper, which is safety rather than improving the vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Option C, "It must be inexpensive to manufacture," is a valid consideration for the design of any automotive component, including the bumper. However, in terms of prioritizing key criteria, safety takes precedence over cost efficiency.

Therefore, the most appropriate and critical criterion from the provided options is D. "It must protect the vehicle's occupants."