Experimenting with life-lengthening elixirs around A.D. 850, Chinese alchemists instead discovered gunpowder. Their explosive 1._________(invent) would become the basis for almost every weapon used in war from that point on, from fiery arrows 2._________ rifles, cannons and grenades. Gunpowder made warfare all over the world very different, 3._________(affect) the way battles were fought and borders were drawn throughout the Middle Ages.
Gunpowder somehow remained a monopoly of the Chinese until the 13th century, 4._________ the science was passed along the ancient silk trade route to Europe, where it became 5.________ deciding factor in many Middle Age skirmishes.
By 1350, rudimentary gunpowder cannons were commonplace in the English and French militaries, 6._________ used the technology against each other during the Hundred Years' War. The Ottoman Turks also 7._________(employ) gunpowder cannons with abandon during their successful siege of Constantinople in 1453. The 8._________(power) new weapon essentially rendered the traditional walled fortification of Europe, impregnable for centuries, weak and defenseless.
During the Age of Exploration, Europeans used 9._________(gun) and cannons to expand their vast trade networks and powerful empires. Gunpowder would be taken all across the globe as Europeans used this powerful advantage 10._________(conquer) and enslave many in places like The Americas and Africa.
答案
1.invention 2.to 3.affecting 4.when 5.a 6.which 7.employed 8.powerful 9.guns 10.to conquer
翻译
公元850年左右，中国古代炼丹师在炼制长生不老的仙丹过程中发现了火药。从那时起，火药的发明成为战争中几乎所有武器的基础，从火箭到步枪、大炮和手榴弹。火药使世界各地的战争变得非常不同，影响了整个中世纪战争的方式和国家边界的划定。
之前一直是中国人掌握火药的技术，直到13世纪，火药才由于古丝绸之路贸易传到欧洲，成为许多中世纪冲突的决定性因素。
1350年之前，初级的火炮在英法两国军队中已是常规武器了，并在百年战争中使用。1453年，奥斯曼土耳其人成功围攻君士坦丁堡时，他们也大胆地使用了火药大炮。这种强大的新型武器使几个世纪以来坚不可摧的欧洲传统的城墙防御工事不堪一击，毫无防御能力。
在海外扩张的时代，欧洲人用枪和大炮来扩大他们庞大的贸易网络和强大的帝国。当欧洲人利用这一优势征服和奴役美洲和非洲的许多地方时，火药被带到全球各地。
词汇解析
elixir / ɪˈlɪksə(r) /n. 灵丹妙药；炼金药；长生不老药
border / ˈbɔːdə(r) /n. 国境，边界
monop
oly / məˈnɒpəli /n. 垄断，垄断权；垄断企业，专卖者
例：
Had he succeeded, he would have acquired a monopoly.
如果他那时成功了，他就会获得垄断地位。
The company has a virtual monopoly in this area of trade.
这家公司实质上已经垄断了这种贸易。
trade route / ˈtreɪd ruːt /商队的路线；贸易航路
rudimentary / ˌruːdɪˈmentri /adj. 基本的，初步的
例：
He had only a rudimentary knowledge of French.
他只有最基本的法语知识。
Some dinosaurs had only rudimentary teeth.
有些恐龙只有未充分长成的牙齿。
commonplace / ˈkɒmənpleɪs /adj. 平凡的，不足为奇的；平庸的，陈腐的
render / ˈrendə(r) /v. 使成为，使处于某种状态；给予，提供
impregnable / ɪmˈpreɡnəb(ə)l /adj.（要塞）坚固的，无法攻取的
exploration / ˌekspləˈreɪʃ(ə)n /n. 勘探，勘察；研究，探究
conquer / ˈkɒŋkə(r) /v. 占领，攻克，征服；击败，战胜
enslave / ɪnˈsleɪv /vt. 束缚；征服；使某人成为奴隶
