Question

    Runners in a relay race pass a stick in one direction. However, merchants passed silk, gold, fruit, and glass along the Silk Road in more than one direction. They earned their living by traveling the famous Silk Road.

The Silk Road was not a simple trading network. It passed through thousands of cities and towns. It started from eastern China, across Central Asia and the Middle East, and ended in the Mediterranean Sea. It was used from about 200 B.C. to about 1300 A.D., when sea travel offered new routes. It was sometimes called the world’s longest highway. However, the Silk Road was made up of many routes, not one smooth path. They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe.

The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China.

Indian merchants traded salt and other valuable goods. Chinese merchants traded paper, which produced an immediate effect on the West. Apples traveled from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to graft different trees together to make new kinds of fruit. They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple. Trading along the Silk Road led to world-wide business 2,000 years before the World Wide Web. The people along the Silk Road did not share just goods. They also shared their beliefs. The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy, and religion.

1.What is required to be traders along the Silk Road?

A.Remembering the entire trade route. B.Dealing with a lot of difficulties.

C.Receiving certain special training. D.Knowing the making of products.

2.What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A.Silk was the most prized product. B.The Silk Road led to world-wide business.

C.People traded many goods along the route. D.The Silk Road used to be the world’s longest highway.

3.How does the new technology travel along the Silk Road?

A.Trading goods along the route. B.Sharing each others’ beliefs.

C.Learning from one another. D.Making a living by traveling.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.The Silk Road: East Meets West B.The Silk Road: Past and Present

C.The Silk Road: Routes Full of Dangers D.The Silk Road: Pathways for Learning

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了古代丝绸之路的发展，具体介绍了丝绸之路的由来、途经的国家和古时人们通过丝绸之路进行的贸易往来以及丝绸之路为东西方贸易发展和文化传播发挥的重要作用。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe.可知他们经过了现在18个国家。这条路线要穿越高山和沙漠，而且要面临烈日、深雪甚至战争的危险。只有经验丰富的商人才能安全返回。由此可知，丝绸之路上的商人需要处理很多困难。故选B。

2.主旨大意题。根据第三段The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China.可知丝绸之路得名于它最珍贵的产品。丝绸可以像货币一样用来纳税或购买商品。但是商人们所携带的不仅仅是丝绸。来自欧洲的金、银和玻璃大多在中东和亚洲被发现。其他地区的马匹交易改变了中国的农耕方式。由此可知，第三段的主要内容是丝绸之路带动了世界范围内的贸易。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中The Chinese had learned to graft different trees together to make new kinds of fruit. They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple.可知中国人已经学会了把不同的树嫁接在一起，制造新的水果品种。他们把这门科学传给了其他人，包括罗马人。罗马人用嫁接技术种植苹果。以及后文The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy(外交), and religion.可知丝绸之路为学习、外交和宗教提供了途径。由此可知，新技术是通过互相学习沿着丝绸之路传播的。故选C。

4.主旨大意题。通读全文，文章介绍了古代丝绸之路，全文围绕古丝绸之路促进了中西方的货物、技术和文化交流，说明了丝绸之路为世界贸易发展和文化传播所起到的重要作用，是东西方之间的桥梁。故A选项“丝绸之路：东西方交汇”最符合文章标题。故选 A。