Question

Silk production has a long history and colourful history unknown to most people. Scientific discoveries have shown that silk production began in China around 2,500 B.C., although it could be much older. For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one for the most closely protected secrets in history. Anyone telling the secret of silkworms or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished in prison.

At one time silk was served only for the Chinese emperor. Step by step, others began wearing silk. In addition to being used for clothing, silk was used to make musical instruments, fishing lines, ropes and even paper. During the Han Dynasty silk became a form of money.

However, the Chinese finally lost their monopoly(垄断) on silk production. It reached Korea in around 200 B.C. when some Chinese people arrived there. Silke production came to India in 300 A.D. In 500 A.D., silk production came to Europe when travelers smuggled(偷运) out silkworms in empty pipes of bamboo. These were used to set up silk factories in Rome, although Chinese silk was still considered to be the best.

Silk was brought to Rome from China by means of the Silk Road. There were actually two Silk Roads, one over land and one on the sea. Especially the land route had a huge effect in history. All sorts of trade goods were passed along this road. Ideas travelled the Silk Road, too. For example, the religion of Buddhism(佛教) was carried to China from India by traders on the Silk Road. The Silk Road created the first international culture, showing many people the ideas and treasures of both Western and Chinese cultures.

1.How was China able to keep the secret of silk production?

A. It refused to sell its silk to the other countries.

B. Foreigners were not allowed to come to China.

C. The silkworms were not able to live outside China.

D. Chinese passing on the secret to foreigners were seriously punished.

2.Which of the following uses of silk is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. Clothing    B. Pipes    C. Paper    D. Money

3.In what order did silk production spread throughout the world according to the passage?

A. Europe→India→Korea→China

B. Europe→China→Korea→India

C. China→Korea→India→Europe

D. China→India→Enrope→Korea

4.The underlined word “These” in Paragraph 3 refers to ________.

A. bamboo    B. empty pipes    C. silkworms    D. travelesrs

5.Which of the following is true about the Silk Road?

A. It allowed for economic and cultural exchanges between countries.

B. It made China the most powerful country in the ancient world.

C. It could only be completed by travelers with a boat.

D. It was first developed for carrying religions.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.C

5.A

【解析】文章大意：中国是世界上闻名的丝绸古国，本文介绍了丝绸在中国的发展及丝绸技术向国外的传播。

1.D细节理解题。根据第一段中的最后两句For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one for the most closely protected secrets in history. Anyone revealing the secret of silkworms or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished by death.可以得出答案。故D正确。

2.B细节理解题。在短文第二段中，提到了丝绸可用作clothing、paper与money，所以选B。

3.C细节理解题。根据文章第三、四段可以知道丝绸产品传遍全世界各国的顺序：China→Korea→India→Europe。故C正确。

4.C词义推测题。根据前文In 500 A.D., silk production came to Europe when travelers smuggled(偷运) out silkworms in empty pipes of bamboo公元500年在欧洲，当游客用空的竹管走私蚕时，丝绸生产就来到了欧洲。和后文这些被用来在罗马建立丝绸工厂，尽管中国丝绸仍然被认为是最好的，可知these指的是“silkworms”。故选C。

5.A细节推理题。根据文章最后一句The Silk Road created the first international culture, exposing many people to the ideas and treasures of both Western and Chinese cultures.可知丝绸之路促进了国家之间的经济文化交流。故A正确。