[语篇解读] 最新的考古学研究表明，古代欧亚大陆之间的主要贸易通道——丝绸之路，其起源可能比我们之前认为的要早许多世纪。
5．The word“coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by________.
A. produced B. continued
C. doubled D. combined
[解析] 猜测词义题。由第一段第二句的句意“这些发现，综合广泛的、科学的、历史的研究可以增添丝绸之路历史新纪元迷人的一页”可以推知答案为D。
[答案] D
6．The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that________.
A. Egyptians had probably travelled 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] 推理判断题。由末段首句可以推断出在汉武帝之前就有了丝绸之路的贸易，故B项正确。A项不合常识和事实；C项句意本身没有错误但太宽泛；D项这一事实可以阐明古代贸易实践，不合文意，故排除。
[答案] B
