©(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Have you ever seen or heard about machines that can work on farms?
- Do you think technology can completely replace human skills?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- row /roh/
- waste /weyst/
- accurately /AK-yer-it-lee/
- winery /WAHY-nuh-ree/
- crop /krop/
[noun] – a line of plants or crops that are grown next to each other
The farmer walked carefully between the rows of corn to check for pests.
[noun] – unwanted matter or material of any type, especially what is left after useful substances or parts have been removed
Factories are finding ways to reduce waste by recycling materials.
[adverb] – in a way that is correct or exact
The machine counted the coins accurately, saving employees time.
[noun] – a place where wine is produced
Tourists often visit wineries to taste different kinds of wine.
[noun] – a plant that is grown by farmers for food or other uses
This year’s wheat crop was smaller due to dry weather.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in vineyards, especially in Napa Valley, a well-known wine region. Farmers are now using AI-powered self-driving tractors to improve their work. These tractors can move through vineyard rows and collect important information to help farmers make better decisions. By studying things like soil quality, plant health, and water needs, AI helps farmers save resources and reduce waste. Many experts believe this technology is helpful because it improves decision-making without replacing human skills. Both large and small wineries are turning to AI to become more efficient. AI is also used in other ways. For example, John Deere’s “Smart Apply” technology uses sensors to spray grapevines accurately, reducing the use of chemicals. Automated watering systems are also becoming popular. These systems can detect leaks and adjust water flow to prevent waste. However, AI can be hard for smaller wineries to use. It is often expensive and requires special training. While AI improves crop monitoring and helps prevent disease, managing it for larger vineyards can be difficult. Despite these challenges, AI continues to give vineyard owners new ways to improve their farming methods.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- AI completely replaces human skills in vineyards.
- Automated watering systems can detect leaks and adjust water flow.
- Managing AI systems in larger vineyards can be challenging.
- AI has no effect on reducing waste or saving resources in vineyards.
- AI-powered tractors can help farmers understand soil quality and plant health.
Fill in the blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
row | waste | accurately | wineries | crop |
- The GPS guided us ______ to our destination without any mistakes.
- Each ______ of tomato plants was watered using an automatic irrigation system.
- The countryside is filled with beautiful ______ surrounded by grapevines.
- Farmers harvested the rice ______ earlier than expected.
- Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth leads to unnecessary water ______.