The map shows the main route of the Silk Road. A map titled Physical Features of East Asia. A key shows the Main route of the Silk Road with a purple line, Lowlands in green, Highlands in yellow, and mountains with brown triangles. Large areas of yellow span across northern China and Mongolia, west toward Europe, east toward the rivers. Green areas run along the eastern and southern coastline and most of India. The Gobi desert is in Mongolia north of China. The East China Sea and South China Sea form the China coast. The Taklimakan desert is in eastern China between the Himalaya Mountains to the south and the Gobi desert to the north. The Himalayas are along the southern border between China and India. The Qin Mountains are in central China. A purple line begins east China and travels west through the Highland regions south of the Taklamakan Desert, continuing toward Europe and Africa.

How did the Silk Road help China overcome its geographic isolation?

A. It provided better trade routes north of China.
B. It helped connect China to countries to the west.
C. It encouraged contact with countries to the south.
D. It led to increased communication with lands to the east.