VOA慢速英语2017--A Desert Turns Green
时间：2018-12-07 作者：英语课 分类：2017年VOA慢速英语(八)月
On the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula 1, the desert turns green as clouds cover it like a blanket.
This is the country of Oman's monsoon 2 season.
The natural event, which lasts for three months, draws hundreds of thousands of tourists with cool weather and beautiful views. It began this year on June 21.
A 60-day festival, in Oman's Dhofar region 3, draws about 50,000 people every night for dance competitions, musical performances, and exorcisms.
In the midst 4 of the clouds, people celebrate Oman's cultural diversity of Arab, African, and Asian roots.
The festival
Officials in Dhofar region started the monsoon festival in 1998.
The monsoon festival now draws performers from 40 countries, said festival director Talal al-Masahli. He added that 60 percent of the visitors come from Oman, while the rest come from nearby countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Each night, a different Omani city takes the main stage.
The port of Sohar did a sea-themed show with cannons 6 and a large wooden ship. The next night, a group from Bidbid chanted with swords while a musician blew into a ram's horn.
Salem Ashoor, leader of the local Ahmad al-Kabir Sufi order, said diverse 7 groups use the festival to share their cultures. The Sufi order, for example, performed a musical exorcism in front of almost of 500 people.
More tourists come every year
Khalid al-Najar is a meteorologist. He explains that the mountains surrounding Salalah, Dhofar's capital city, trap moisture 8 from the Indian Ocean monsoon. Air pressure pockets above Saudi Arabia and Tibet drive air currents to Oman.
These weather currents create a unique environment, which has heavy fogs and lush mountains and coasts.
"It's magical," said Muna al-Ajmi, an Omani chemical engineer visiting the region with two children.
Thomas Wagmann, on holiday from Dubai, noted 9, "Compared to Dubai, this [Dhofar region] is just fantastic because you can be outdoors all the time."
He added, "You don't even have to worry about sunburn because there's no sun."
I'm John Russell.
Words in This Story
monsoon – n. a wind in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia that brings heavy rains in the summer
exorcism – n. to force (an evil 10 spirit) to leave
cannon 5 – n. a large gun that shoots heavy metal or stone balls and that was once a common military weapon
blow – v. to create a current of moving air by breathing
meteorologist – n. a scientist who studies the atmosphere and with weather
moisture – n. a small amount of a liquid (such as water) that makes something wet or moist
- Dalian is in the south of the Liaodong Peninsula.大连位于辽东半岛南部。
- Korean peninsula lies to the west of Japan.朝鲜半岛在日本以西。
- The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
- The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。
- The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
- It is unusual to see snow in this region.这个地区难得见到雪。
- The hut is in the midst of the forest.小屋在森林深处。
- There is a thief in our midst.我们当中有小偷。
- The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
- The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。
- Cannons bombarded enemy lines. 大炮轰击了敌军阵地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- One company had been furnished with six cannons. 某连队装备了六门大炮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Spain is a composite of diverse traditions and people.西班牙是一个汇集了多种传统和民族的国家。
- Society is now much more diverse than ever before.当今社会较之以往任何时候都要丰富多彩得多。
- This tree drank up more moisture than that one.这棵树吸收的水分比那棵树多。
- The moisture in the air makes it humid today.今天空气中水气大，天气很潮湿。