Question

Read the following excerpt from Passage 1. The name "Silk Road" emphasized the demand for Chinese silk among European consumers. Which ONE phrase from Passage 2 BEST supports why other countries did not have the much-desired silk prior to the Silk Road? A "China so highly guarded its worldwide monopoly on silk production that a person would be condemned to death if he or she tried to smuggle silkworms or silkworm eggs to another country!" B "To seek help, Emperor Wu sent Zhang Qian on a westward expedition in 138 BC!" С "The monks hid silkworm eggs in their hollow bamboo canes and brought their contraband to Justinian!" D "By AD 300, Japan produced silk thanks to a Japanese expedition that smuggled silkworm eggs along with some young girls trained in silk making!"​

Answer 1

The phrase from Passage 2 that best supports why other countries did not have the much-desired silk prior to the Silk Road is:

A "China so highly guarded its worldwide monopoly on silk production that a person would be condemned to death if he or she tried to smuggle silkworms or silkworm eggs to another country!"