The Life-Givers of the Desert: Oases throughout the World

Oases(绿洲) have had a strong influence on the development of society in desert regions. Aspects of trade as well as military and political power have all been impacted by oases. Merchants have relied on these fertile zones 【小题1】(get) access to vital water, food, and other supplies on their journeys. Historically, the Bahariya Oasis, 【小题2】 (locate) 370 kilometers from Cairo, is remarkable. During the ancient time, this water reserve was an agricultural center. More recently, tourism has brought important income to the region, which 【小题3】(stretch) more than 2, 000 square kilometers.

It’s not surprising 【小题4】 fascinated history lovers are by the area’s history and geographical features. In recent years, more than 100 golden mummies 【小题5】(discover) as part of a tomb system, which radar has shown to include more than 10,000 mummies. This amazing discovery was made in 1996, 【小题6】 a donkey fell into a hole and the animal’s owner saw the face of a shiny, golden-colored mummy inside. The mummies are near another significant piece of history: the Temple of Alexander the Great. Visitors to the region can also see tombs 【小题7】(cut) out of huge rocks. 【小题8】 dating back to 2500 years ago, the tombs were in such condition as could be determined to belong to a wealthy family. In terms of physical features, Bahariya is known for its hot and cold springs and Crystal Mountain, which is not really a mountain but rather large masses of various types of crystals.

Sitting in sharp contrast to the tough, dry conditions that surround 【小题9】, oases are remarkable. They exist 【小题10】 delicate yet crucial ecosystems, providing significant agricultural, tourism, and life-giving benefits to the regions.

At the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Wang Ge,【小题1】 paper-cutting artist, runs a market stand where impressive examples of her work are on display in the popular tourist destination.

Growing up in the region and influenced by diverse ethnic cultures, she is committed to 【小题2】(tell)Xinjiang stories through her paper cutting while protecting and promoting the traditional folk art. “Paper cutting is a 【小题3】 (combine) of folk art and daily life,” said Wang, who graduated 【小题4】the art department of Xinjiang Normal University.

During her decades of paper cutting she 【小题5】(inspire) by real-life experiences, especially those relating to ethnic culture in the region. She often travels to Kashgar, Hotan and Aksu in southern Xinjiang to explore 【小题6】local ethnic people live. One of her works features 20 people 【小题7】 (dress) in traditional costumes with musical【小题8】(instrument) in hand, singing and dancing in a grape garden. Wang saw the lively scene when she was traveling in Aksu.

After the COVID-19 outbreak, Wang gave online lectures on paper cutting, attracting 100, 000 viewers and teaching students 【小题9】 (able) to attend school how to cut the images of medical workers from paper. Wang said she was pleased 【小题10】(see)pupils who lacked colored paper painting the white paper red and green as an exchange art form.