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阅读理解
Tubbat
and his wife, Tosontsagaan, are villagers in Inner Mongolia's Ejin Horo Banner (内蒙古), where there is
the Badain Jaran Desert (巴丹吉林沙漠), one of China's four
biggest deserts. They have spent many years fighting against the desert. They
plant trees in the desert area to keep the sand and protect the environment.
Tubbat
has planted more than 50,000 trees covering about the size of 133 football
fields. "When I was a child, there were lakes, forests and animals. And it
rained a lot," said Tubbat. " But sandstorms turned the green land
into a desert. "
Tubbat
started to plant trees in 2002 after he finished his job as a government
official. His wife supported his decision. They did all this for free and even
spent most of their own money. "Many people do not understand why I do
this. They don't know the happiness I feel when I see the land turn green
again," said Tubbat. "My wife's support gives me energy. Our children
want us to live in a city. But this is not the right time. I want to grow more
trees," he said.
Tubbat
is happy that more people have begun to plant trees after hearing his story. Some
have even visited him to learn how to plant trees in the desert. "Trees
can bring rain and animals," he said. "I want to be a tree, to grow
up in the desert and hold the sand until I die. "