Final answer:
The statement about Curly thinking the tires were slashed when only air was let out is contingent on the narrative context and cannot be deemed true or false without it. Slashing tires and letting air out are distinctly different actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Curly thought someone had slashed the truck tires, but all they did was let the air out." is True if it is in line with the events as described in a narrative or a story. However, without context, it's not possible to determine the veracity of the statement as it could be a part of a fictional narrative or a real-life scenario. If this statement is mentioned in literature or a passage that the student is studying, then it would relate to how characters or events are portrayed in that particular work.
In a more literal sense, slashing tires and letting air out are two distinct actions, with slashing implying damage to the tires, while letting air out means that the tires can be re-inflated without repair.