TASBAQA: A Documentary on the Ustyurt EcosystemCEFR A2
31 Aug 2025
Adapted from Vlast.kz, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by GWANGJIN GO, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
TASBAQA is a short documentary film by Saxon Bosworth. It focuses on the Central Asian tortoise, which lives in the Ustyurt Plateau in Central Asia. This ecosystem is very important but is threatened by human activities.
The film gives a voice to the tortoises. It shows their daily life and how they adapt to the harsh environment. In the film, viewers see the tortoise's life cycle. The tortoise comes out in spring, mates, and then hibernates.
The soundtrack includes traditional Kazakh music played on the dombra, an important musical instrument. This music adds emotion to the film and connects with the story of the tortoise.
Difficult words
- tortoise — A slow-moving land reptile with a shell.tortoises, tortoise's
- ecosystem — A group of living things and their environment.
- lives — The natural home of a plant or animal.
- adapt — To change to fit a new environment.
- hibernates — To sleep for a long time for survival.
- traditional — Related to customs or practices from the past.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think human activities affect ecosystems?
- Why is it important to document animal life?
- What feelings did the music evoke for you during the film?
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