Talking about the mystery that involves the Loch Ness Monster is a common moment in English classes because of its far fetched story. I edited this scene to make the context more appealing to those who know little about the monsters origin.
In cryptozoology , a cryptid (from the Greek "κρύπτω" (krypto) meaning "hide") is a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but is unrecognized by scientific consensus and often regarded as highly unlikely.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptid
Source for the next activity: : Great Site -
http://www.smashinglists.com/10-most-famous-cryptids
I. Match some famous cryptids with their description:
1. Mothman
2. Giant Anaconda
3. Yeti
4. Chupacabra
5. Loch Ness Monster
6. Lycanthrope
7. Mermaid
8. Dragons
9. Sasquatch
( )
Bigfoot is an ape-like creature that inhabits forests, mainly in
the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually
described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid.
( ) A female human head and torso and the tail of a fish. They have
been discussed since at least 5000 BC. Their origins are believed to be
from the Great Queen Atargatis, who loved a mortal shepherd and
unintentionally killed him. Ashamed, she jumped into a lake to take the
form of a fish, but the waters would not conceal her divine beauty.
Thereafter, she took the form of a human above the waist, fish
below.
( ) The most frequent speculation is that the
creature represents a line
of long-surviving plesiosaurs. It is similar to other supposed monsters
in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies.
Popular interest and belief in the animal has fluctuated since it was brought to the world’s attention in 1933. It is regarded by scientists as a modern-day myth, and explain sightings as wishful thinking.
( )
The Abominable Snowman
mythological humanoid creature said to inhabit the Himalayan region of
Pakistan and Nepal. The scientific community largely regards the it as
a legend, yet it remains one of the most famous creatures of
cryptozoology. It is tall, bipedal
creature covered with long white hair and wore no clothes. He had an
interesting feature of changing his hair colour in sunlight to fox red.
( ) They are usually shown in modern times with a body like a huge
lizard, or a snake with two pairs of lizard-type legs, and able to emit
fire from their mouths.
() It is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the
Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly
unknown animal in Puerto Rico (where these sightings were first
reported), Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter’s
Latin American communities. The name comes from the animal’s reported
habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially
goats. is a reptile-like being, appearing to have greenish-gray skin and sharp spines.
( ) Reports
date back as far as the
discovery of South America when sightings of this cryptid upwards of 50
meters (150 feet) began to circulate amongst colonists and the topic
has been a subject of debate ever since among cryptozoologists and
zoologists.
( ) It is a creature reportedly seen in the
Point Pleasant area of West Virginia from November 12, 1966, to
December 1967. Most observers describe the it as a man-sized
creature with large reflective red eyes and large wings. The creature
was sometimes reported as having no head, with its eyes set into its
chest. It has an unusual shriek
that can be heard from a mile away.
( ) A
werewolf
is a cryptid with the ability to shape shift into a
wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely, by
being bitten or scratched by another werewolf, or after being placed
under a curse. This transformation is often associated with the
appearance of the full moon. Werewolves are often attributed super-human
strength and senses, far beyond those of both wolves or men.
Answer key: 9, 7, 5, 3, 8, 4, 2, 1, 6
http://www.loch-ness-monster-nessieland.com/loch-ness-monster-facts.shtml
II. Talk to a friend:
1. Do you know any other cryptids or mythological creatures from your cultures that people claim to have seen it?
2. Why do people believe in cryptids?
3. What do you know about the Loch Ness Monster?
4. Why do people visit Loch Ness so often? Do these people believe it actually exists?
III. Watch the movie segment and discuss the questions that follow.
1. How does the segment explain the origin of the Loch Ness Monster?
2. How different is this animal if compared to the description in exercise I?
3. How far fetched is this story?
4. Read the facts below believers claim to be true about the monster. What can be true about these facts?
The first recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster was in 565 AD by St Columba. In fact St Columba saw the monster twice in that year. The monster was first seen in the River Ness before becoming more closely associated with the loch. The next reference to the
monster was in 1933 when Mr and Mrs Spicer reported seeing a large
animal crossing the road in front of their car. It is a type of carnivorous aquatic, usually marine, reptile, and
cannot be a mammal as it does not have to breathe air. If it needed to
surface in order to breath air it would most probably have been seen by
many before now. In 1976 an attempt was made to lure Nessie to the surface of the
water by throwing bacon out of a hot air balloon on to the loch below.
For reasons unknown she did not appear.
5. Is it fair that people who live in that region make money out of this imaginary cryptid? Why?
6. Why do so many people visit Loch Ness every year?
T
