An Australian professor is developing a robot to monitor the health of grazing cattle, a development that could bring big changes to a profession that’s relied largely on a low-tech approach for decades but is facing a labor shortage.

Salah Sukkarieh, a professor at the University of Sydney, sees robots as necessary given how cattlemen are aging. He is building a four-wheeled robot that will run on solar and electric power. It will use cameras and sensors to monitor the animals. A computer system will analyze the video to determine whether a cow is sick. Radio tags (标签) on the animals will measure temperature changes. The quality of grassland will be tracked by monitoring the shape, color and texture (质地) of grass. That way, cattlemen will know whether they need to move their cattle to another field for nutrition purposes.

Machines have largely taken over planting, watering and harvesting crops such as corn and wheat, but the monitoring of cattle has gone through fewer changes.

For Texas cattleman Pete Bonds, it’s increasingly difficult to find workers interested in watching cattle. But Bonds doesn’t believe a robot is right for the job. Years of experience in the industry — and failed attempts to use technology — have convinced him that the best way to check cattle is with a man on a horse. Bonds, who bought his first cattle almost 50 years ago, still has each of his cowboys inspect 300 or 400 cattle daily and look for signs that an animal is getting sick.

Other cattlemen see more promise in robots. Michael Kelsey Paris, vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, said a robot could be extremely useful given rising concerns about cattle theft. Cattle tend to be kept in remote places and their value has risen, making them appealing targets.

1.1. What is a problem with the cattle-raising industry?

A Soil pollution.

B Lack of workers.

C Aging machines.

D Low profitability.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据文章第一段的“An Australian professor is developing a robot to monitor the health of grazing cattle, a development that could bring big changes to a profession that’s relied largely on a low-tech approach for decades but is facing a labor shortage.（澳大利亚一名教授正在开发一种机器人，用于监测放牧牛的健康状况，这一开发可能会给畜牧业带来重大变化。几十年来，畜牧业主要依靠低技术手段，但目前正面临劳动力短缺的问题。）”可知，畜牧产业面临劳动力短缺的问题。故选B。

2.2. What will Sukkarieh’s robot be able to do?

A Monitor the quality of grass.

B Cure the diseased cattle.

C Move cattle to another field.

D Predict weather changes.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据文章第二段的“The quality of grassland will be tracked by monitoring the shape, color and texture (质地) of grass.（通过监测草形状、颜色和质地来跟踪草地的质量。）”可知，Sukkarieh的机器人可以监测草的质量。故选A。

3.3. Why does Pete Bonds still hire cowboys to watch cattle?

A He wants to help them earn a living.

B He thinks men can do the job better.

C He is inexperienced in using robots.

D He enjoys the traditional way of life.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据文章第四段的“But Bonds doesn’t believe a robot is right for the job. Years of experience in the industry — and failed attempts to use technology — have convinced him that the best way to check cattle is with a man on a horse.（但邦兹认为机器人并不适合这份工作。多年的行业经验——以及使用技术的失败尝试——使他确信，检查牛的最好方法是让一名男子骑在马上。）”可知，皮特·邦兹仍然雇佣牛仔看牛是因为他认为人能做得更好。故选B。

4.4. How may robots help with cattle watching according to Michael Kelsey?

A Increase the value of cattle.

B Bring down the cost of labor.

C Make the job more appealing.

D Keep cattle from being stolen.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据文章最后一段中的“Michael Kelsey Paris, vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, said a robot could be extremely useful given rising concerns about cattle theft.（俄克拉荷马州养牛人协会副会长迈克尔·凯尔西·帕里斯说，鉴于人们对偷牛的担忧不断上升，机器人可能会非常有用。）”可知，机器人帮助照看牛，可以防止牛被偷。故选D。