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 plete．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 puter keeps records on their eating and milking．A cow is released from the station if the puter 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（吸引） 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 cost 175 000 dollars．The second cost 150 000．
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．
【小题1】From the first paragraph，we can infer ．A．the robotic system is designed to reduce laborB．cows can be raised by robots in the futureC．robots direct cows into milking stationsD．cows are kept clean by robots on some farms【小题2】Besides milking cows，the robotic system also can ．A．adjust the temperature of milking stationsB．judge the quality of fresh milkC．improve the appetite of cowsD．keep fresh milk for two weeks【小题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．【小题4】According to Doug，what is the wage of an employee?A．150 000～170 000．B．750 000．C．150 000～30 000．D．30 000—32 000【小题5】The best title for the passage may be ．A．Letting robot milk your cowB．Milking cows by handC．Improving the quality of milkD．Drinking fresh milk every dayA
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(答案→)A
解析：文章介绍了一种新型的挤牛奶的系统—用机器人挤牛奶，介绍了它的优缺点。
【小题1】推理题：从第一段的句子：Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers．可知使用机器人挤牛奶是为了减少劳力。选A。
【小题2】推理题：从第五段的句子：The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk．Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests．可知机器人系统除了挤牛奶还可以检测牛奶的质量。选B。
【小题3】细节题：从第六段的句子：Still，she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use．说明是因为人们买不起这种机器人，所以不是很受欢迎。选C。
【小题4】计算题：倒数第二段的机器人的价格从175 000-150，000，最后一段说 Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot．可知一个员工的工资是175 00/150，000除以5.选D。
【小题5】主旨题：文章第一段的主题句：They use robotic systems to milk their cows．可知选A。