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 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.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 |
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 |
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. |
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 |
The best title for the passage may be_______.
| A．Letting robot milk your cow | B．Milking cows by hand |
| C．Improving the quality of milk | D．Drinking fresh milk every day |
ARLANDA, Sweden (Reuters Life!) --Many people hate the idea of having to sleep on a plane. But Swedish entrepreneur（企业家）Oscar Dios thinks they can be persuaded otherwise and he has created a new kind of hostel（旅社）to prove it.
Dios says it is the world’s first Jumbo jet hostel, an actual jet-plane at Sweden’s main airport outside Stockholm which has been changed into a 25-room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.
“I learned about this plane that was standing deserted at Arlanda airport and I’ve been trying the concept of hostels in many different houses and buildings,” he told Reuters. “I thought, ‘ Why not a plane?’ ”
Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in a room that can best be described as comfortable.
“The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something inside a metal hull(外壳)--it’s just really, really tight.”
The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2002. It is held on a concrete（混凝土）foundation with the landing gear（着陆装置）secured in steel cradles.
One feature of the hostel is its price--a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $ 41 ), which is a lot less than hotel rooms outside of major airports.
Another feature is that customers can get married on the wing of the plane and stay in the plane’s more luxurious honeymoon suite (套房).
Instead of walking down the aisle（过道）in the church, lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the “wing walk,” where they can be joined in great happiness at the wing tip. The hostel has someone ready to perform the ceremony.
But in some respects, this hostel remains a plane--most customers have to share the jet’s nine bathrooms and the staff only wear air host and hostess clothes. The only room that has its own bath-room is the honeymoon suite. One of the features of the plane hostel is that _______.
| A．customers can sleep in comfortable rooms | B．air hostesses can offer good service |
| C．the staff can have a “wing walk” | D．a wedding ceremony can be held on the wing |
We can learn from the text that _______.
| A．the hostel lies at Arlanda airport in Stockholm |
| B．the jet plane was out of use for over six years |
| C．every hostel room is $ 41 per night |
| D．the hostel provides nine bathrooms for customers |
The underlined word "tight" means _______.
| A．crowded | B．tense | C．small | D．full |
The purpose of the passage is to _______.
| A．introduce a new kind of hostel | B．prove people can sleep on a plane |
| C．describe a wonderful place for weddings | |
| D．call on people to make use of the deserted things |
Experience the Colorado River the Hualapai Way!
River Runners offers the ONLY One Day Whitewater trip ANYWHEERE at the
GRAND CANYOU!
Since1973，Hualapai River Runners has been conducting whitewater rafting journey to the Colorado River. Our experienced guides expertly sail along the river and share the history of the Canyon and the Hualapai people with you.
Visitors experience the excitement of whitewater rapids and then stop to enjoy the impressive beauty of Travertine Falls and a tasty lunch．No charge for children 2 years and under.
One-Day Trip
Retail$249.00+$79.00(helicopter and round-trip ground transportation)
Whitewater rafting tours begin in Peach Springs．Hualapai River Runners transports you to Diamond Creek, which i
s the starting point for the 37 mile rafting tour. Lunch is included and upon arrival at the rafting tour termination point(终点)，fly out of the Grand Canyon by helicopter （直升机）to Grand Canyon West．
Two-Day Trip
Retail$549.00+$79.00(helicopter and round-trip ground transportation)
Two-day rafting trips with one night on the Colorado River. All supplies and meals are included. Two days in the Grand Canyon，on the Colorado River allows more time to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World。
Tours Include：
●Round-trip transportation from Peach Springs to the starting point and from the termination point back to Peach Springs．
●Snack，drinks and lunch(vegetarian meals available upon request)
●Waterproof dry bags for storing your cameras, sunscreen, dry clo
thes, etc．
●The helicopter part of transportation is weather permitting. If the helicopter transportation is cancelled because of bad weather, the raft will continue an additional two hours to South Cove and a maximum（最大量）$20.00 per customer will be given back.
Special Website booking rate 15% off rafting in April 2010. So book now!
Call us Toll Free Today! Tel: 1-888-868-9378Where do whitewater rafting tours start?
| A．Travertine Falls | B．Peach Springs |
| C．Diamond Creek | D．Grand Canyon West |
We learn from the passage that _______.
| A．Hualapai River Runners provides dry clothes |
| B．you will get $20 back if you are dissatisfied |
| C．the trip is free of charge for children under 2 |
| D．online booking has a better offer all year round |
What is the purpose of the passage?
| A．To attract people to the sights | B．To explore the Hualapai culture |
| C．To explain how to make a rafting trip | D．To i ntroduce the history of the Colorado River |
When I was nine years old I lived in a small town. I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children’s magazine. I thought to myself I could do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit (配件). Two weeks later the kit arrived. The next three hours later, I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting, “Mama, all the people couldn’t wait to buy my cards!” A salesperson was born.
When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Ziegler. I remember sitting in the dark hall listening to Mr. Ziegler raise everyone’s spirits up to ceiling. I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, “Dad, I want to make people feel like that.” My father asked me what I meant. “I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Ziegler,” I replied. A dream was born.
Recently, I began pursuing（追求） my dream of motivating others. I realized that everything I had accomplished — the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking appointments, training and managing for a major fortune 100 company as a senior manager— had prepared me for this moment. I told my boss who was a great leader I would leave the company though I might not reach such a height in career. He told me to proceed（进行） and he believed I would succeed.
Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I gave notice, my husband was laid off from his job. We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage (抵押) payment and now we were done to no income. I even planned to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of “if onlys” later on. A motivational speaker was born.
When I held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles（奇迹） really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn’t miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking appointments with new clients (客户). I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my workmates and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she marked, “The world always makes way for the dreamer.”Why was the kit sent for?
| A．Selling greeting cards. | B．Collecting greeting cards. |
| C．Buying greeting cards. | D．Sending greeting cards. |
When did the author decide to become a motivational speaker?
| A．After buying a new home by mortgage. |
| B．After giving notice to leave her safe position in the company. |
| C．After finding a job in a major fortune 100 company. |
| D．After listening to Mr. Ziegler’s inspiring speech. |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
| A．She was once an excellent manager. |
| B．She left her post at the height of her career. |
| C．She was not sure whether the former company could accept her. |
| D．She didn’t miss paying the monthly mortgage payment. |
What does the underlined sentence mean in the last paragraph?
| A．Carry on with your dreams and you will be successful. |
| B．Risk everything you have for a dream and you will succeed. |
| C．The world belongs to dreamers. |
| D．Everyone will find their dreams. |
People living in the country enjoy several advantages that people living in the city cannot enjoy.
They are in close contact (接触) with nature. They make friends with trees and stones. They breathe fresh air. They fight with strong winds. They listen to the song of birds.
This contact with nature is good for health. There are many diseases that are common in the city, but are not to be found in the country, For example, near---sightedness is almost unknown to country people.
Because of the absence of cars, one can walk more freely in the country than in the city, There are no rules of the road nor traffic signs to obey.
People living in the country can easily get fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and fresh milk, and they get them at lower prices than in the city.
Country life is economical (节俭的) in other ways, too. There are practically no temptations to waste money.
Country people are mostly honest. They say what they mean, and make and keep promises with sincerity (诚意). They do not put on air (摆架子). They do not pretend to have those ridiculous (荒谬的) manners which are necessary in what we call polite society. What can’t country people often enjoy?
| A．Musical concerts. | B．Fresh air. |
| C．Song of birds. | D．Close contact with nature. |
What is probably more expensive in the country than in the city?
| A．Vegetables. | B．Beer. | C．Milk. | D．Fruit. |
What is NOT true of country life?
| A．The traffic accident rate is very high in the country. |
| B．Living in the country saves one a lot of money. |
| C．Country people enjoy better health than the city people. |
| D．Country people are honest. |
A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift——＄7，000，a legacy (遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident . “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in other, it was more than ＄100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money , more than ＄3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm .
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They thrived own comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase .
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,” says their friend Sand Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy——a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cent ——should enrich the whole community (社区) and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors ——that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story . According go the text , the Fusses
| A．were employed by a truck company | B．were in financial difficulty |
| C．worked in a school cafeteria | D．lost their home |
Which of the following is true of the Hatches?
| A．They had their children during the Great Depression. |
| B．They left the family farm to live in an old house. |
| C．They gave away their possessions to their neighbors. |
| D．They helped their neighbors to find jobs. |
Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store?
| A．They decided to open a store |
| B．They wanted to save money |
| C．They couldn’t afford expensive things |
| D．They wanted to buy gifts for local kids |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．The community of Alto was poor. |
| B．The summer camp was attractive to the parents. |
| C．Sandy Van Weelden got a legacy form the Hatches. |
| D．The Hatches would like the neighbors to follow their example. |