Over 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road, a 7,000-km-long trade route created by camel-driving merchants, started to link China with Europe via central and west Asia.

Today, the ancient invention still inspires both China and the United States when they work out their respective blueprints to promote regional development.

Experts say that Xi's upcoming U.S. visit in late September will offer a golden opportunity for China and the United States to review their versions of "Silk Road" initiative to see what they could do together.

CHORUS（合唱） NOT SOLO（独奏）

There is much room as well as favorable environment along the route for possible cooperation between China and the United States.

China has mapped out the plan in an inclusive and open manner to encourage participation of whoever is interested. Just like the ancient Silk Road, the modern "Belt and Road" will make easier trade and cooperation among countries with different religions and cultures.

For the U.S. part, the "New Silk Road" is an initiative for Central Asia and Afghanistan, which aims to integrate the region and tap its potential as a transit hub between Europe and East Asia.

Experts suggested Beijing and Washington start concrete talks in this respect, working out ways to cooperate in infrastructure（基础设施） construction, make easier investment and remove trade barriers, so that the potential for regional development could be released.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

Possible China-U.S. cooperation on the Silk Road is also expected to meet with challenges besides Cold War mental state and the difference of Chinese and U.S. Ideologies.

Several countries along the route, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, are still plagued by conflicts, separatist movements and political instability.

These factors would pose threats to personnel safety, infrastructure construction as well as future investment.

China and the United States should enhance cooperation not only in the field of economy, but also in restoring and maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Moreover, their cooperation along the Silk Road will also face challenges from financial sectors. Fundamentally speaking, trade cooperation along Silk Road can not do well without good financial services.

Despite those challenges, experts said, the Silk Road is wide and long enough for China and the United States to carry out their plans and cooperation.

本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写，禁止复制和任何商业用途，版权所有，侵权必究！

1.What does this report mainly talk about?

A Main challenges to the cooperation between China and the U.S.

B There is much room for China and the U.S. to develop cooperation.

C Introduction of the Silk Road.

D Both China and the U.S. Are interested in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

解析：选B。主旨大意题。综合文章3个部分的内容可知，在丝路建设中，中美合作空间巨大，特别是第2部分第1句话There is much room as well as favorable environment along the route for possible cooperation between China and the United States.点出了主题，同时，文章最后一句话也做出了相同的结论。

2.What does the word“initiative”mean in the third paragraph?

A project

B building

C preparation

D instinct

解析：选A。判断词义题。根据上下文推测应该是倡议、计划的意思，其他意思不符合上下文。

3.Why does the U.S. propose "New Silk Road" ?

A The U.S. realizes the big threat to Central Asia and Afghanistan.

B Chinese president Xi Jinping will visit America late this September.

C The U.S. intends to integrate Central Asia and makes it a transportation center.

D The U.S. aims to make full use of Chinese development.

解析：选C。细节理解题。 根据文章第2部分第2自然段...which aims to integrate the region and tap its potential as a transit hub between Europe and East Asia“旨在整合该地区，挖掘其作为欧洲和东亚之间交通枢纽的潜力”，可知答案。

4.Which is the biggest challenge to the building of Silk Road?

A Difference of Chinese and U.S. Ideologies.

B Threat to infrastructure construction.

C Threat to personnel safety.

D Lack of financial support.

解析：选D。细节理解题。通过倒数第2段最后1句Fundamentally speaking, trade cooperation along Silk Road can not do well without good financial services“从根本上讲，没有良好的金融服务做后盾，沿线贸易合作不可能获得成功”，可知答案。

5.What is the author’s attitude towards cooperation between China and the United States?

A Critical

B Negative

C Ironic

D Positive

解析：选D。观点态度题。通读全文可知作者赞同中美丝路合作，并且非常期待。