1 . The Silk Road is the name of different roads that connected Europe, Africa and Asia long ago. It _______ by Fvon Richthofen, who was _______ famous German geographer. Scientists believe people began to travel the Silk Road about 3000 years ago and that people _______ these different places along these roads. By the time the Chinese silk trade became important in the world, the Silk Road covered almost 7, 000 kilometers. It went _______ China to the West.

Businessmen travelled along the Silk Road to carry silk, of course. _______ also carried and traded _______ things like spices（香料）, cloth, jewels and gold.

Along and around these ancient paths（小路）, many fascinating（吸引人的）and mysterious stories happened.

It is said that Roman soldiers who _______ a war travelled through central Asia. They decided _______ somewhere near the ancient Chinese villagers. Some of these Romans _______ local Chinese women and the stories of the blond-haired, blue eyed tribes（部落）of China was started.

During its ________ period, the Silk Road allowed people from many different cultures and countries ________ each other and mix. The Silk Road allowed the sharing of valuable things and new ideas. It included people and trading goods from different areas. All these people travelled the Silk Road, ________ they shared goods, stories, languages and cultures.

In modern times, the old Silk Road route（路线）are still used, but now they are crossed ________ train instead of camels and horses. There ________ even a Silk Route Museum in Jiuquan in China. It has over 35, 000 objects from all along the Silk Road. ________ China protects the history of many countries and people.