The westward movement of the ancient Silk Road evolved over many centuries since the Han Dynasty. Afterward, it reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty with the increased exchange of goods and knowledge. The latter was gradually developed in search of both religious and spiritual knowledge by sending imperial missions and cultural exchanges between China and India, the Middle East, and Western Asia through the Silk Road. Spiritual-seeking monks in Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist traditions were enriched in their own traditions and religious knowledge with their mutual encounters among themselves. Traveling merchants became benefactors （施主） of the temples of worship by sharing their wealth and then attaining merits and blessings from monks and divine force. Thus, the vibrant Chinese civilization was further augmented by interacting with distant Babylonian, Egyptian, Indian, and Persian civilizations.
【正确答案】：自汉代以来，古丝绸之路不断向西延伸，历时数百年；到唐代达到巅峰，商品贸易频繁，知识交流增强。在唐朝，中国与印度、中东、西亚各国，经由丝绸之路，互派使者，进行文化交流，探寻宗教思想、精神认识，达到鼎盛时期。追求心灵修炼的僧侣、道士和儒学之士互相交流，思想碰撞交融，不断丰富着各自的传统观念与宗教知识。商旅们捐资而后获取功德，并得到修炼之士的福佑以及神灵的庇护，成为神庙的施主。因此，充满活力的中华文明与遥远的巴比伦、埃及、印度、波斯文明相互交流，变得更加绚丽多彩。
【题目解析】：注意文中一些关键表达的翻译。“the westward movement”翻译成“向西”，“evolve”翻译成“延伸”，“the Han Dynasty”翻译成“汉代”，“the Tang Dynasty”翻译成“唐代”，“the increased exchange of goods and knowledge”翻译成“商品贸易频繁，知识交流增强”，“the latter”翻译成“在唐朝”，“was gradually developed”翻译成“达到鼎盛时期”，“imperial mission”翻译成“互派使者”，“Buddhist”翻译成“僧侣”，“Confucian翻译成“儒学之士”，“Daoist”翻译成“道士”，“mutual encounters”翻译成“互相交流，思想碰撞交融”，“were enriched”翻译成“不断丰富着”，“Traveling merchants”翻译成“商旅们”，“sharing their wealth and then attaining merits and blessings”翻译成“捐资而后获取功德和福佑”，“vibrant”翻译成“充满活力的”，“was further augmented by”翻译成“变得更加绚丽多彩”，“interacting with”翻译成“与……相互交流”，“Babylonian, Egyptian, Indian, and Persian civilizations”翻译成“巴比伦、埃及、印度、波斯文明”。
