Question

(2013·宜春五校联考)Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers.They use robotic systems to milk their cows.Cows are trained to follow a series of paths that lead to milking stations.Only one cow at a time can enter a station.

Once inside，the cow is rewarded with food.As the cow eats，a robotic arm cleans and connects the animal to the milking machine.A few minutes later，milking is complete.The gate is opened，the cow is released and the next cow enters.

The robotic systems are designed to operate 24 hours a day.The cows get to decide when they want to be milked.Cows are milked an average of about three times a day.Some are milked four to six times a day.

The cows wear collars around their necks that identify them to the system.A computer keeps records on their eating and milking.A cow is released from the station if the computer decides it should not be milked.

The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk.Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests.

Professor Plaut believes the systems will appeal especially to the next generation of farmers.She means young people who are more interested in technology and less interested in working all the time on the farm.Still，she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use.

Doug and Tina Suhr have more than 100 cows on their family farm.Last year it became the fourth farm in southeast Minnesota to get a robotic milking system.A recent story in a local agricultural newspaper said the first robot costs 175,000 dollars.The second costs 150,000 dollars.

Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot.He says the increase in milk production reaches a high of more than six kilograms per cow per day.

1.From the first paragraph，we can infer ________.

A．the robotic system is designed to reduce labor

B．cows can be raised by robots in the future

C．robots direct cows into milking stations

D．cows are kept clean by robots on some farms

2.Besides milking cows，the robotic system also can ________.

A．adjust the temperature of milking stations

B．judge the quality of fresh milk

C．improve the appetite of cows

D．keep fresh milk for two weeks

3.Why is the robotic system not popular now?

A．Because young people have no interest in it.

B．Because it is difficult to learn how to use it.

C．Because people can't afford to buy it.

D．Because it usually causes the waste of milk.

4.According to Doug，what is the wage of an employee per year?

A．$150,000～$175,000.

B．over $75,000.

C．$150,000～$30,000.

D．$30,000～$35,000.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】随着科技的发展，一些奶农利用机器人系统来给奶牛挤奶。

1.A解析 第一段开头讲到，科技使一些奶农生活更轻松。他们使用机器人系统来给奶牛挤奶。由此可推知设计这种系统是为了减少人们的劳动量。

2.2】B 解析 由第五段内容可知，这个自动化系统还能测量新产出来的牛奶的温度和颜色。如果没有通过测试，牛奶就被扔掉，故答案为B项。

3.3】C解析 根据倒数第三段中的“Still，she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use.”可知，它现在不流行是因为人们买不起这种设备。

4.4】D解析 根据最后一段中的“wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot”可以大致计算出来。按每台175 000美元，工人每年工资应为35 000美元；按每台150 000美元，则工人每年工资为30 000美元。