How did monks help preserve learning in the
Middle Ages?

the monasteries ended up preserving knowledge due to a contingent rule of some orders that monks spend some of their time reading.

Explanation:

lil more info.

During reading or copying monks were forbidden to discuss the books they had in front of them, which is probably good for us.

While knights underwent special education that prepared them for the battlefield and the court and artisans learned their craft from their masters, the contemplative life of a monk provided the perfect setting for learning to read and write, as well as acquiring and copying manuscripts whenever the opportunity arose.

c, to compete