Ⅰ. 阅读理解
New archaeological(考古学的) discoveries suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began in some form many centuries earlier than once thought. The findings, coupled with a widening range of scientific and historical research could add a fascinating new page to the epic of the Silk Road.
The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission(使命)across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, traveled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what has been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets in Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
【语篇概述】本文是介绍最新考古发现的说明文。从文中可以看出我们原以为的丝绸之路的历史实际上可能会更早。
1. The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by______.
A. produced B. contributed
C. doubled D. combined
【解析】选D。 词义猜测题。根据第一段可知, 新的考古发现表明欧亚之间的丝绸之路开始的历史要比我们知道的还要早。考古的发现结合(coupled) 科学和历史的研究, 会给丝绸之路的史诗翻开崭新的一页。
2. The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that______.
A. Egyptians had probably traveled to China to buy silk
B. trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought
C. historical research often achieves fascinating results
D. new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices
【解析】选B。 推理判断题。根据第二段第一句可知, 丝绸之路开始的历史要比我们过去认为的还要早, 故选B。
3. Until recently most historians believed that trade along the Silk Road ______.
A. originated in the 2nd century BC
B. extended human migration into eastern Asia
C. began a million years ago
D. primarily benefited the Egyptians
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据第三段第一句可知, 官方对于东西方的贸易的开始时间定在公元前二世纪末期。
4. Historians have always considered Zhang Qian’s mission important because they believe ______.
A. he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor
B. he discovered the Silk Road
C. he helped establish East-West trade
D. he traveled as far as Afghanistan
【解析】选C。推理判断题。根据第三段可知, 历史学家把张骞出使西域当成是古代东西方交流最重要的一次旅行。他的这次旅行开创了中国和罗马的联系。
