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 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：本文主要讲述的是用机器人来给奶牛挤奶的机器人系统的使用情况和运用。
【小题1】A 推理题。根据文章第一段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.说明这样的机器人系统可以减少人工的使用，故A项正确。
【小题2】B 推理题。根据第五段The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk. Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests。说明这样的机器人还能监控牛奶的质量，如果不过关，牛奶就要被倒掉。故B正确。
【小题3】C 细节题。根据倒数第三段最后一行Still, she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use.说明现在这样的机器人系统的价格太高限制了他的使用，故C正确。
【小题4】D 推理计算题。根据文章最后一段1，2行Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot说明5年的工人的公众可以买一个这样的机器人系统，the first robot cost 175 000 dollars. The second cost 150 000.故大约是D项。
【小题5】A 主旨大意题。本文主要讲述的是用机器人来给奶牛挤奶的机器人系统的使用情况和运用。故A正确。