-
Masters of the Desert
“Bedouin” is a name given to some of the people who live in North Africa
and the Middle East. Unlike most people, many Bedouins do not ( 24
Instead, they are nomads, which means that they are always moving about. They
walk around the hot deserts of countries like Egypt and Israel, leading their
camels and sheep to gras and water. Life in the desert is not easy, but over
thousands of years, Bedouins have developed unique skills to help them survive.
Some people estimate that there are around 20 million Bedouins in the world
today. However, (
25
). Because many of them are traveling, it is impossible
to count them all. In recent years, however, many Bedouins have given up their
traditional way of life. This is because the amount of land controlled by
governments has increased, which has made it harder for the Bedouins to travel
freely. Some of them now live in urban areas and have regular jobs, such as
driving taxis and working in restaurants.
Some Bedouins have found work with the Israeli army as trackers. A tracker
is a person who follows people by using signs left on the ground, such as the
marks left by feet or tires. Trackers must know their environment well and be
quick to notice anything unusual. (
26
), with their desert survival skills,
Bedouins are excellent trackers. About 1,600 of them are now serving in the
Israeli army, and their ability to notice dangers along Israel's borders is helping to
protect the countily.
1 sleep lying down
2 live in one place
3
eat meat or fish
4
use paper money
1 their exact numbers are unknown
2 there were many more in the past
3 the groups have no government
4 they all meet once every year
1 Naturally
2 Occasionally
3 Secondly
4 Equally