Roads of Silk and Trade
Written by Studio AM.
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The Silk Road was not a single road but a wide network of trading routes that linked China with lands far to the west, including India, Persia, and the cities of the Mediterranean. Merchants did not usually travel the whole distance themselves. Instead, goods were passed from trader to trader, moving a little farther west or east at each stop.
Silk gave the network its name, because Chinese silk was prized in distant markets. Yet many other things traveled along these routes. Spices, glass, paper, and precious stones changed hands, and so did ideas. Religions, inventions, and even diseases moved with the caravans.
The journey was hard. Traders crossed deserts and high mountain passes, often relying on camels that could endure long stretches without water. Towns called oasis cities grew up along the way, offering rest, food, and a place to trade. These cities became wealthy and busy, mixing people and customs from many cultures.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
Which statement best captures the passage?
The answer is B: The Silk Road was a network of routes that moved goods and ideas between distant lands
The passage describes a network of routes carrying many goods and ideas, not just silk.
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Question 2 of 4
How did goods usually travel the full length of the route?
The answer is B: They were passed from trader to trader along the way
The text states goods were passed from trader to trader at each stop.
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Question 3 of 4
In this passage, 'prized' means that silk was:
The answer is B: highly valued by buyers
Silk was wanted in distant markets and gave the trading network its name. Prized means highly valued, not merely available or locally produced.
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Question 4 of 4
Why did oasis cities come to mix people and customs from many cultures?
The answer is D: Traders from many distant lands stopped there to rest and trade
The routes linked China, India, Persia, and the Mediterranean, and goods changed hands at each stop. Since travelers from all these lands rested and traded in the oasis cities, the cities naturally filled with a blend of people and customs.
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