Paragraph 2: The chief problem was technological: How were the Europeans to reach the East? Europe's maritime tradition had developed in the context of easily navigable seas—the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and, to a lesser extent, the North Sea between England and the Continent—not of vast oceans. New types of ships were needed, new methods of finding one's way, new techniques for financing so vast a scheme. The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflects the immensity of the profits that such East-West trade could create. Spices were the most sought-after commodities. Spices not only dramatically improved the taste of the European diet but also were used to manufacture perfumes and certain medicines.
17. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A. The high cost to investors of developing trade by sea between East and West indicates the great size of the profits that such trade could produce.
B. The profits that could be created by sea trade between East and West were immense compared with the investment required to develop such trade.
C. The increase in commercial activity by using sea routes reflects the importance trade between East and West had for investors seeking great profits.
D. Because people made large investments in sea commerce between East and West, they expected to make immense profits.
这种绝对规模的投资在海上开始的商业扩张，从侧面反映了东西方贸易可以获得的利润之巨大。
A选项说，投资者花费的巨大财力去发展中西方海上贸易暗示了有很大的利润可图，是对原句的精确改写。
B选项出现了一个比较逻辑，它认为，收益比起投资来说是巨大的，原文没有这样的比较逻辑，错误。
C选项，原文是reflect the profits而它是reflect the importance for investor属于虚假改写，错误。
D选项，因为人们在东西方海贸的巨大投资，所以他们期望能够创造巨大利润，明显错误。原文是说，投资大反应利润大，而不
是期望利润大而去投资。
TIPS:
sheer 用来强调事物的大小、程度或数量
immensity 浩瀚
正确答案A。