[IELTS Reading] – The story of silk

Complete the notes. Write ONE WORD ONLY from the text in each gap.

The Story of Silk

Early silk production in China

• Around 3000 BC, according to legend:

           – silkworm cocoon fell into emperor’s wife’s 1.

           – emperor’s wife invented a 2. to pull out silk fibres

• Only 3. were allowed to produce silk

• Only 4. were allowed to wear silk

• Silk used as a form of 5.

          – e.g. farmers’ taxes consisted partly of silk

• Silk used for many purposes

          – e.g. evidence found of 6. made from silk around 168 AD

Silk reaches rest of world

• Merchants use Silk Road to take silk westward and bring back 7. and precious metals

• 550 AD: 8. hide silkworm eggs in canes and take them to Constantinople

• Silk production spreads across Middle East and Europe

• 20th century: 9. and other manmade fibres cause decline in silk production