Question

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

A．$150,000～$175,000.         B．$150,000～$30,000.

C．$30,000～$35,000.           D．over $75,000.

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

A．judge the quality of fresh milk

B．keep fresh milk for two weeks

C．adjust the temperature of milking stations

D．improve the appetite of cows

3.Why is the robotic system not popular now?

A．Because it usually causes the waste of milk.

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

C．Because young people have no interest in it.

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

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

A．cows can be raised by robots in the future

B．robots direct cows into milking stations

C．the robotic system is designed to reduce labor

D．cows are kept clean by robots on some farms

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析: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。

1.C细节理解题。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年的工人的工资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$30,000～$35,000.，故选C。

2.A细节理解题。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，故选A。

3.D细节理解题。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，故选D。

4.

考点：考查科教类短文阅读

【名师点睛】

科教类阅读应对策略：

1、要想做好科教英语阅读理解题，同学们就要注意平时多读科教知识类文章，学习科普知识，积累常见的科普词汇，从根本上提高科教英语的阅读能力。

2、要熟悉科普类文章的结构特点。科普类文章一般由标题(Head line)，导语(Introduction)，背景(Back ground)，主体(Main body)和结尾(End)五部分构成。标题是文章中心思想高度而又精辟的概括，但根据历年的高考情况来看，这类阅读理解材料一般不给标题，而要同学们选择标题。导语一般位于整篇文章的首段。背景交待一个事实的起因。主体则对导语概括的事实进行详细叙述，这一部分命题往往最多，因此，阅读时，同学们要把这部分作为重点。结尾往往也是中心思想的概括，并与导语相呼应，命题者常在此要设计一道推理判断题。

3、在进行推理判断时，同学们一定要以阅读材料所提供的科学事实为依据，同时所得出的结论还应符合基本的科普常识。

任何一种阅读方法或技巧的使用，都是由篇章特点和试题本身的要求决定的，应根据不同的体裁和试题要求采取不同的策略。

1、浏览。浏览的主要目的就是确定文章的体裁。如果文章属于人物传记、记叙文、故事、科普小品和有关社会文化、文史知识的文章，一般来说，应该先看看文章的试题考查内容，对题目类型做到心中有数，针对不同问题，在通读时有粗有细地去阅读，这样不仅能把握篇章的基本结构和逻辑线索，也能做好有关具体事实信息考查的试题。

2、挖掘寓意，掌握中心思想，推出结论。任何文章，作者在行文时都有一定的写作目的和主要话题。在通读篇章时应该吃透作者的写作意图，抓住文章的主题句，充分发挥自己的想象力和概括力，作出对中心思想的归纳和结论的推断。

3、把握篇章结构，利用上下文进行推测。高考中的阅读理解篇章往往是一个较完整的短文，其结构、思想，前后上下连贯统一。考试时应充分利用这一特点推测一些生词、短语在句中的含义，切莫盲目孤立猜测。

比如第25小题According to Doug，what is the wage of an employee per year?，要联系上下文进行推理计算，通过阅读可知第一台机器售价175,000美元，第二台机器售价150,000美元，而工人五年的工资才能买得起，说明工人的工资大约为$30,000～$35,000.，选C。

4、综观全篇，前后呼应。这是阅读理解的最后一步，在做完阅读理解题后，要立足于文章整体，再迅速读一遍短文，短文中的问题和答案的设置前后都是相关联的，有着一定的连续性，体现着文章的基本脉络。