1 . 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 2^nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission 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.

1. The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by ____________.

A．produced	B．doubled
C．combined	D．contributed

2. What does the silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggest?

A．That trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought

B．Historical research often achieves fascinating results

C．Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk

D．The new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices

3. Until recently most historians believed that trade along the Silk Road ____________.

A．extended human migration into eastern Asia

B．primarily benefited the Egyptians

C．began a million years ago

D．originated in the 2nd century BC

4. Why have Historians always considered Zhang Qian’s mission important?

A．Because it discovered the Silk Road

B．Because he helped establish East-West trade

C．Because he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor

D．Because he travelled as far as Afghanistan

2 . Over the past several decades, the U.S., Canada, and Europe have received a great deal of media and even research attention over unusual phenomena and unsolved mysteries. These include UFOs as well as sightings and encounters with “nonhuman creatures” such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. Only recently has Latin America begun to receive some attention as well. Although the mysteries of the Aztec, Mayan, and Inca civilizations have been known for centuries, now the public is also becoming aware of unusual, paranormal phenomena in countries such as Peru.

The Nazca “lines” of Peru were discovered in the 1930s. These lines are deeply carved into a flat, stony plain, and form about 300 intricate(精美的) pictures of animals such as birds, a monkey, and a lizard. Seen at ground level, the designs are a jumbled senseless mess. The images are so large that they can only be viewed at a height of 1,000 feet — meaning from an aircraft. Yet there were no aircraft in 300 B.C., when it is judged the designs were made. Nor were there then, or are there now, any nearby mountain ranges from which to view them. So how and why did the native people of Nazca create these marvelous designs? One answer appeared in 1969, when the German researcher and writer Erich von Daniken proposed that the lines were drawn by extraterrestrials(外星人) as runways for their aircraft. The scientific community did not take long to scoff at and abandon von Daniken’s theory. Over the years several other theories have been put forth, but none has been accepted by the scientific community.

Today there is a new and heightened interest in the Nazca lines. It is a direct result of the creation of the Internet. Currently there are over 60 sites dedicated to this mystery from Latin America’s past, and even respected scientists have joined the discussion through e-mail and chat rooms. Will the Internet help explain these unsolved mysteries? Perhaps it is a step in the right direction.

1. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

A．Latin America has long received attention for unusual phenomena.

B．Public attention is now directed towards countries like Peru.

C．Public interest usually focuses on North America and Europe.

D．Some ancient civilizations have unsolved mysteries.

2. We can infer from the passage that the higher the lines are seen, the _______ the images they present.

A．smaller	B．larger
C．clearer	D．brighter

3. There has been increasing interest in the Nazca lines mainly because of ______.

A．the participation of scientists	B．the emergence of the Internet
C．the birth of new theories	D．the interest in the Internet

4. The author is _______ about the role of the Internet in solving mysteries.

A．cautious	B．pessimistic
C．uncertain	D．optimistic