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Silk, the word itself is beautiful. The story of silk started in China over 4,000 years ago. It says a silkworm’s cocoon(蚕茧) fell into a woman’s teacup. It then opened into a single, unbroken thread (线).1． The Chinese learned they could use the cocoons to make cloth that was both beautiful to look at and soft to touch.

2． In other countries, silk was valuable and not often seen. Often it was worth more than gold. It’s said that the secret finally got out when a princess left China to go to India. In her hair, she secretly carried many silkworms.

By the year 1 A. D., silk was sold as far west as Rome, and all along the Silk Road. 3． Centuries later, in 1522, the Spanish brought silkworms to Mexico.

Nowadays people around the world still make many beautiful things from silk. Silk isn’t only beautiful. It seems that it’s easy to break. 4． For example, it has been used to make bicycle tires(轮胎). And some doctors even use silk threads in the hospital. 5． This makes it great for clothes like winter jackets, pants, and shoes.

All of this from a little insect—the silkworm. That is the miracle(神奇) of silk.