Question

New archaeological discovers 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 western desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have 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 of 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.

59. The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by_______ .

A. produced       B. continued

C. doubled        D. combined

60. 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

61．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 travelled as far as Afghanistan

62. When did the official origin of East-West commerce along the Silk Road get to Persia?

A. About 1000 BC.

B. In the late 2nd century BC.

C. A million years ago.

D. In the 2nd century.

Answer 1

59. 【解析】選D。詞義猜測題。由第一段第二句的句意“這些發現，綜合廣泛的、科學的、歷史的研究可以增添絲綢之路歷史新紀元迷人的一頁。”可以推知答案為D。

獨具【方法技巧】英語閱讀理解詞義猜測題

1. 利用指代關系猜測代詞詞義：即找出人稱代詞、指示代詞、關系代詞或關系副詞所指代的內容，一般來說代詞的詞義推測主要是要看前面句子所出現的名詞及相當于名詞的相關表達內容。

2. 利用定義或解釋詞義猜測詞義；在許多情況下，作者估計到某個詞一般讀者不熟悉，則會在文章中給出該詞的定義或解釋。通過閱讀定義和解釋部分，讀者便可理解該詞的基本含義。

3. 利用定語或同位語來猜測詞義：通常引出該詞同位語的詞語有or, that is, in other words等，還有同位語以括號或破折號的形式出現。

4. 利用文章中的舉例來猜測詞義：在閱讀理解中讀者可以根據文章所舉的例子，猜出該生詞的意思。

5. 利用對比或比較的詞語來猜測詞義：能體現對比關系的詞匯很多，主要有but, yet, however, while, unlike, instead, on the other hand, on the contrary, in contrast with等。標點符號分號也可表示對比。

6. 利用構詞法知識猜詞義：了解構詞法并記住一些派生詞詞綴，可以擴充詞匯量，也可猜測生詞詞義。

60. 【解析】選B。推理判斷題。由最后一段首句可以推斷出漢武帝之前就有了東西方之間的絲綢貿易。故B項正確。A項不合常識和事實；C項句意本身無錯誤但太寬泛；D項這一事實可以闡明古代貿易實踐，不合文意。

61．【解析】選C。推理判斷題。由第三段His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. 可知答案為C。

62. 【解析】選B。細節理解題。由第三段The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia. . . 可知答案為B。