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（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 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

【小题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

【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 cow	B．Milking cows by hand
C．Improving the quality of milk	D．Drinking fresh milk every day

Even before my father left us, my mother had to go back to work to support our family．Once I came out of the kitchen, complaining, "Mom, I can't peel potatoes．I have only one hand．"

Mom never looked up from sewing．"You get yourself into that kitchen and peel those potatoes," she told me．"And don't ever use that as an excuse for anything again!"

In the second grade, our teacher lined up my class on the playground and had each of us race across the monkey bars, swinging from one high steel bar to the next．When it was my turn, I shook my head．Some kids behind me laughed, and I went home crying．

That night I told Mom about it．She hugged me, and I saw her "we'll see about that" look． The next afternoon, she took me back to school．At the deserted playground, Mom looked carefully at the bars．

"Now, pull up with your right arm," she advised．She stood by as I struggled to lift myself with my right hand until I could hook the bar with my other arm．Day after day we practiced, and she praised me for every rung （横档） I reached．I'd never forget the next time, crossing the rungs．I looked down at the kids who were standing with their mouths open．

One night, after a dance at my new junior high, I lay in bed sobbing．I could hear Mom come into my room．"Mom," I said, weeping, "none of the girls would dance with me．"

For a long time, I didn't hear anything．Then she said, "Oh, honey, someday you'll be beating those boys off with a bat．" Her voice was soft and weak．I glanced at her to see tears running down her cheeks．Then I knew how much she suffered on my behalf．She had never let me see her tears．

Which of the following expressions can be used most suitably to describe Mom's attitude

when she made the child peel potatoes?

    A．Cruel．          B．Serious．   C．Strict．        D．Cold．

From the passage, we know monkey bars can help a child train ____．

    A．the skill to circle round a bar

    B．the skill to throw and catch things

    C．the speed of one's hand movement

    D．the strength and skill to hang and swing

What does the sentence "I saw her 'we'll see about that' look" imply?

    A．Mom believed every aim could be achieved if you stuck to it．

    B．What the child had said brought Mom great attraction and curiosity．

    C．Mom was determined to prove she herself was better than the teacher．

    D．The race across monkey bars was not difficult enough for a child to give up．

The most probable conclusion we can draw after reading the passage is ____．

    A．the last incident was sad enough to make Mom weep

    B．the child's experience reminded Mom of that of her own

    C．Mom could solve any problem except the one in the last paragraph

    D．in fact Mom suffered more in the process of the child's growth

第二节（共5小题;每小题2分，满分10分）

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

I was in Tokyo last spring, walking in the street and talking with my dear friend Kirsten. 71  It turned out to be a group of four very hip Japanese college students playing their music instruments for anyone who would listen.

72  In the middle of the second song, an old homeless man broke through the crowd and started shouting at the band. The musicians did their best to ignore him but the man would not go away. It seemed he was angry about the loud noise.

I remember there were probably two dozen people watching this. 73  I was also helpless because first, I couldn’t speak much Japanese, and second, the homeless man was starting to get more and more violent. At one point, he picked up a stick and started banging on the drum set.

This was more than the young drummer could take. He stopped playing, stood up and pushed the old man to the ground.

74  He knelt down next to the old man, took hold of his hands and asked him if he was alright. I couldn’t understand what was being said, but I will never forget the way this young man helped bring the fallen man to his feet. And I will never forget the way he carefully placed his arm around the old man’s shoulders and quietly walked him away.

75  Maybe this old man was a prince in disguise. And maybe he was waiting to see someone act, just once, with beauty and courage.

A．I couldn’t help but wonder.

B．All of them went away at once.

C．Suddenly, we heard the sound of a jazz band.

D．Everybody became angry with the old man.

E.But no one knew what they could or should do.

F.However, not everyone was enjoying the music.

G.At that time, a young Japanese man went through the crowd quietly.

 

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.
【小题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

【小题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

【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 cow	B．Milking cows by hand
C．Improving the quality of milk	D．Drinking fresh milk every day

第二节：完形填空（共20小题，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项。

Once an Arab was traveling in the desert. When the sun went down in the west, he stopped and 36 his tent then, made a fire and have a37 meal. When night fell, he 38 down to sleep.

He had 39 fallen asleep when he felt a soft 40 on his elbow(手肘). He woke up to find that his camel had put his head inside the tent. The camel said: “Would you please let me keep my head in the tent to get warm? It is so cold outside. I will not take up too much 41 .”

The Arab was a 42 man, “All right, do as you 43 .” he said. Then he turned on his 44 and went back to sleep.

It wasn’t long 45 he felt a push on his shoulder. It was the camel again. “Dear master,” the camel said, “my head is quite warm now, but my neck is still cold. Do you mind 46 I keep it inside the tent, too?”

“ 47 .” the man said. But this time he felt a bit 48, as camel had such a long neck.

No sooner had he shut his eyes 49 he got a harder push in his side. This time the camel said, “will you please allow me to bring my front legs inside and warm then a little?”

The Arab 50 over to one side of the tent. He made 51 as small as he could. It was not 52 comfortable, and sleep was now out of 53 .Soon after that the camel gave his a rough push and said, “The tent is too small for the two of us. 54 , my two hind legs are still left in the cold. It is only 55 that you should leave the tent wholly to me.” And with that, the camel kicked the poor man out.

16. A. built                   B. made                       C. put up               D. set

17 A. simple                 B. rich                         C. excellent               D. ordinary

18. A. laid                    B. lay                           C. lied                       D. went

19. A. seldom               B. not                          C. almost                   D. hardly

20. A. touch                  B. beat                         C. kick                      D. bite

21. A. place                  B. tent                          C. room                    D. blanket

22. A. hard-hearted     B. kind-hearted             C. absent-mined         D. careless

23. A. please                 B. willing                     C. are like                 D. want

24. A. light                   B. head                        C. arm                      D. side

25. A. after                   B. before                      C. since                     D. then

26. A. whether                 B. as                            C. that                       D. if

27. A. Yes, of course      B. No, not at all           C. Don’t. please         D. No, you can.

28. A. crowded             B. comfortable           C. warmer             D. narrower

29. A. than           B. then                         C. when               D. after

30. A. went                   B. walked                     C. climbed              D. moved

31. A. the tent.                 B. himself                    C. room               D. ground

32. A. very                   B. much                       C. a lot                D. a little

33. A. question              B. the question              C. quite possible        D. possibility

34. A. Except                B. Besides                    C. After all             D. But

35. A. unfair                 B. wrong                      C. reasonable          D. right