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MYTH OR REALITY? |
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The Loch Ness "monster" -- affectionately known as "Nessie" -- is an alleged plesiosaur-like creature living in Loch Ness, a long, deep lake near Inverness, Scotland. Many sightings of the "monster" have been recorded, going back as far as 565, when St Columba, the Irish monk who converted most of Scotland to Christianity in the 6th century, saved the life of a local who was being attacked by a monster in the river Ness. St. Columba apparently converted Nessie; as it is said that until he went out on the waters and soothed the beast, she had been a murderess. The modern legend of Nessie begins in 1934 with Dr. Robert Kenneth Wilson, a London physician, who allegedly photographed a plesiosaur-like beast with a long neck emerging out of the waters. That photo created quite a fuss. Before the photo, Loch Ness was the stuff of legend and myth. The locals knew the ancient history of the sea serpent. But people came to the lake more to relax than to go on expeditions looking for mythical beasts. After the photo, the scientific experts were called in. First, they examined the photo itself. Could be a plesiosaur. Yes, but it could be a tree trunk, too. Or an otter. Later, there would be explorations by a submarine with high tech sensing devices. Today, we have a full-blown tourist industry said to have generated an estimated $37 million in 1993, complete with submarine rides (about one hundred bucks an hour in 1994) and a multi-media tourist center. Nessie sightings continue to be reported every year, some backed by photographic evidence. Many of the reports come from tourists who have been enjoying the justly famous Scottish hospitality. Before actually giving an answer to the mystery, it should be remembered that it is logically impossible to prove that something does not exist - only that it has not been found. FINAL TASK After asking the questions to the hunter, prepare an article for the school magazine. Describe the process you have followed for your investigation, summarize the interview, and finally, give your personal opinion about the existence of this amazing creature |
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