A few decades ago, farmers often had the skills and tools needed to quickly make repairs if their machinery (机器) broke down. These days, however, it’s not that simple. Most modern farm equipment is technologically advanced, containing computers and sensors that collect and transmit data. As a result, specific software tools are necessary to deal with mechanical failures.
However, most companies refuse to make those tools available to farmers. They can’t even go to an independent mechanic, since manufacturers (制造商) won’t sell them parts or tools either. This leaves farmers no choice but to take their broken equipment to a licensed dealership (特许经销店).
This isn’t cheap. A farmer might spend thousands of dollars on a simple adjustment. On the other hand, this arrangement has proven lucrative for manufacturers. For example, Deere& Company, a major American manufacturer of farm machinery, can earn up to six times more money with parts and repairs than selling equipment itself.
But money isn’t the only problem-it’s also a matter of time. Oftentimes on a farm, tasks like planting and harvesting have to be done within a window of just a few days when the conditions are just right. If machinery breaks during that window and a dealership can’t make an appointment immediately, the wait can cut severely into the farmers’ annual yields and income.
There’s also the issue of privacy. Equipment manufacturers collect lots of data about soil, weather, and other factors, which they can then share with or sell to others. Even worse are other potential security risks. Because most modern machines can be operated and shut off remotely, some farmers and experts worry that hackers could disable thousands of machines at a time. Such an act could affect the entire country’s agricultural production, threatening livelihoods and food security.
12. What is the major concern of farmers?
A.The poor skills to use farm equipment. |
B.The rising prices to buy modern machinery. |
C.The old software to maintain farm equipment. |
D.The limited choice to repair modern machinery. |
13. What does the underlined word “lucrative” mean in the third paragraph?
A.Profitable. | B.Useful. | C.Impossible. | D.Popular. |
14. How can a machinery breakdown affect farmers during harvest time?
A.They must work extra hours. |
B.They must handle security risks. |
C.They may suffer economic losses. |
D.They may experience staff shortage. |
15. What is the purpose of this text?
A.To comment on the danger of big data. |
B.To point out the influence of high technology. |
C.To put forward a method to increase farm yields. |
D.To argue for farmers’ right to repair their machines. |