【翻译原文】

丝绸之路（the Silk Road）是世界上最伟大、最重要的贸易通路之一。它是连接中国和欧洲、东方和西方的陆路通道。丝绸之路始于公元前2世纪，汉高祖（Han Emperor）派遣张骞出使西域的时期。丝绸之路极其分散，很少有商人走过整个道路。大部分地区地形崎岖或有敌对势力的存在，使得丝绸之路非常危险。因此丝绸和其他商品的供应经常受到限制。

【表达难点】

1.连接：可译为connect。如You should connect the wire to themachine.意为“你应该把这条线连接到这台机器上。”

2.公元前2世纪：可译为the 2nd century BCE。“公元后”则可用ADE表达。

3.派遣张骞出使西域：“派遣”即“给……任务，可用give themissions of表达；“出使西域”即“访问西域的外交任务”，可译为the diplomatic missions of visiting theWesternregions。

4.地形崎岖或有敌对势力的存在：“地形崎岖“可翻译为rugged；“敌对势力”则可用hostile forces表达。

【精彩译文】

The Silk Road is one of the greatest and most important trade routes.It is the overland route that connects China and Europe，the East and the West.The Silk Road began in the 2nd century BCE when Han Emperor gave Zhang Qian the diplomatic missions of visiting the Western regions.The Silk Road was largely scattered and very few merchants ever crossed the whole route.Most of the areas along the road were rugged or with hostile forces，whichmade the route quite dangerous.Therefore，the supply of silk and other goodswas often limited.