阅读理解。
The man who brings my milk used to knock for his money for the week's milk while I was eating breakfast
on Saturday morning. Just lately he has been arriving before I get up. Workforce shortages mean that four men
are sharing five rounds, so he has to start earlier.
Delivering milk to people's homes is hardly good business, especially when the customer may have a choice
of two or three firms serving a single road. In spite of my local difficulties, however, labor troubles are not as
great as a few years ago. There are enough men prepared to make an early moming start for the sake of an
open-air job with a fair measure of freedom. If they did stop calling, women would find it hard work to collect
all the milk they need from self-service stores. Dairies (乳品业) know that stopping deliveries in the United
States resulted in falling sales.
Marketing ideas have included introducing extra lines, in addition to dairy products, which the milkmen can
carry to increase business. One dairyman said, "It won't be long before the milkman delivers more bread than
milk." Some milkmen deliver potatoes, and it seems as though variety will be limited only by the size of the
trucks.
So the milkman is likely to remain a familiar figure, and the dairy products he sells are unlikely to change
very much in this decade. Flavored milk is popular on the Continent. In Britain those who like it buy plain milk
and add their own flavoring. Even the returnable bottle continues to be used. As long as it has a reasonable life-
30 to 40 trips are usual-the cost of collection and cleaning is worthwhile.
1. The milkmen now start earlier on their delivery rounds than be- fore because _____. [ ]
A. there is an increasing demand for milk delivery
B. they hope to reach the customers' home in time
C. they have to collect the money for the week's milk house to house
D. dairies are short of deliverymen and the companies worry about falling sales
2. Why are there enough men prepared to make an early morning start? [ ]
A. Because they can enjoy a certain amount of freedom in the fresh air.
B. Because they like working outdoors and breathing the air freely.
C. Because they can enjoy a great amount of freedom outdoors.
D. Because they like walking freely in the fresh air.
3. Which of the following statements is NOT true? [ ]
A. One of the marketing ideas is variety.
B. The milkman now delivers more bread than milk.
C. Milkmen have taken over many rounds given up by bakeries.
D. Some milkmen deliver potatoes in addition to dairy products.
4. According to the passage, in this decade ____. [ ]
A. milkmen will disappear very soon
B. flavored milk will become popular in Britain
C. people will buy milk from self-service stores
D. there will be little change in the dairy business
5. It can be inferred from the passage that ____. [ ]
A. the British people seldom buy plain milk
B. the returnable bottles are no longer used
C. collection and cleaning of the retumable bottles cost nothing
D. the returnable bottles won't be thrown away until they are used dozens of times
