Cryptozoology

BBC Learning¹ English
6 Minute English
Cryptozoology
Callum: Hello I’m Callum Robertson and with me today for 6 Minute English is Jackie
Dalton – hello Jackie.
Jackie: Hello Callum.
Callum: Now in the programme today we’re going to be talking about mysterious（神秘） and
mythical creatures and dipping our toes into the cold water of crytptozoology.
Jackie: Cryptozoology? Well that’s a new word to me!
Callum: And to me Jackie! Cryptozoology is the study of animals that don’t fit into any
normal categories – so for example looking for living examples of animals
which are thought to be extinct
Jackie: So basically² dinosaurs（恐龙） living in modern times?
Callum: Yes, yes And also the study of creatures for which there is no solid evidence
but which exist in legends and folklore³.
Jackie: Like the Loch Ness Monster?
Callum: Exactly. And we’ll talk a little more about the Loch Ness monster later but first,
a question for you Jackie. A few weeks ago you asked me a question about an
English word which was based on a Latin⁴ verb. Well today I have a Greek
challenge for you. The prefix⁵ ‘crypto’ in cryptozoology originally comes
from Greek, but what does it mean? Does crypto mean:
a: unknown
b: hidden, or
c: mysterious
Jackie: Oh, I don’t know. I’m going to take a guess at ‘unknown’.
Callum: OK we’ll find out at the end of the programme if you are right. Now if I say to
you the Abominable⁶ Snowman – what does that mean to you?
Jackie: Er, to me that means a large scary monster that might come from the mountains
or something like that.
Callum: Exactly, now that’s one word for a creature that is believed to exist in many
parts of the world. In North America it’s known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch, we
know it as the Abominable Snowman and in Tibet and some other countries
it’s the Yeti. Now in each case the descriptions of this creature are quite similar.
In a recent edition of the BBC series From Our Own Correspondent（通讯员） journalist
Alastair Lawson reported on his meeting with a man in (meg Ha lair) northeast
India who had spent 10 years looking for their Yeti. Let’s have a listen to the
description from Alastair.
Alastair Lawson
Let me start with the Yeti. It's reputed to be an ape-like animal which stands and weighs
nearly two times more than the average man. An artist's impression of the animal - drawn
from descriptions provided⁷ by eye witnesses - also shows it to be surprisingly hairy. Its twotone,
thick black and grey coat seems incongruous in a part of India where the humidity⁸ is so
intense that an afternoon's walk often results in a soaking⁹ wet shirt.
Callum: He describes there an animal, about twice the size of a man which is very hairy.
But some of the language he uses suggests that he is not sure that the creature
exists. Jackie, Alastair says that the Yeti is ‘reputed to be’ an ape-like animal.
What does he mean by reputed-to be?
Jackie: This means something is believed to be true or said to be true but there isn’t
actually any proof¹⁰ that it is.
Callum: Yes, and he describes the animal as being ‘surprisingly’ hairy. Being hairy is a
typical feature of many of these creatures, so why is it surprising?
Jackie: Well it’s ‘surprisingly’ hairy because this particular Yeti is believed to inhabit
jungles which are hot and humid – so as he also says the thick coat seems
incongruous, incongruous – or to put it another way, out of place – it doesn’t
seem quite right that a creature living in that particular area would have such a
thick coat.
Callum: So he uses the phrase ‘reputed to be’, he describes the Yeti as ‘surprisingly
hairy’ and comments that this feature seems ‘incongruous’. Let’s listen again.
So what do you think of all this Jackie – do you think there are wild, unknown
ape-like creatures wondering around forests and mountains?
Jackie: Well I’d like to think that ‘cos it makes it seem rather exciting, but I don’t
think in these parts there are many signs of that.
Callum: No I mean, certainly in Great Britain we don’t have a Yeti, but we do have a
creature that is ‘studied’ by cryptozoologists, and that is, of course, Nessie!
Jackie: Ah yes, the Loch Ness monster.
Callum: Now Loch Ness is a very large lake in Scotland¹¹ and there is reputed to be some
kind of large creature living in it. Perhaps a dinosaur-like water creature. There
have been some photos and some films which claim to show Nessie, but there’s
still no clear evidence.
Jackie: So have you ever seen it Callum?
Callum: I have been to Loch Ness a few times but the only monster（怪物） I’ve seen is my own
reflection when looking at the water!
Jackie: Yes, I can see how you might think that. But do you think there is something
there? Do you believe in the Loch Ness Monster.
Callum: I’d like to say yes, but my head says no. I think it’s great for tourism and the
souvenir industry but I’m not convinced¹² really by any of the evidence I’ve seen.
Well Jackie, it’s the time now to find out if you were right or wrong. What
does ‘crypto’ in the word ‘cryptozoology’ mean, from the original Greek. And
you said it meant:
Jackie: ‘Unknown’
Callum: And the answer is, it means ‘hidden’. So hard luck a good guess – but better
luck next time.
That’s all from this edition of 6 Minute English – bye for now. Goodbye
Jackie: Goodbye（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

3 folklore   

n.民间信仰，民间传说，民俗

参考例句：

• Zhuge Liang is a synonym for wisdom in folklore.诸葛亮在民间传说中成了智慧的代名词。
• In Chinese folklore the bat is an emblem of good fortune.在中国的民间传说中蝙蝠是好运的象征。

4 Latin   

adj.拉丁的，拉丁语的，拉丁人的；n.拉丁语

参考例句：

• She learned Latin without a master.她无师自通学会了拉丁语。
• Please use only Latin characters.请仅使用拉丁文字符。

5 prefix   

n.前缀；vt.加…作为前缀；置于前面

参考例句：

• We prefix "Mr."to a man's name.我们在男士的姓名前加“先生”。
• In the word "unimportant ","un-" is a prefix.在单词“unimportant”中“un”是前缀。

6 abominable   

adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的

参考例句：

• Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
• The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。

7 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

8 humidity   

n.湿度，潮湿，湿气

参考例句：

• The house is not comfortable tonight ,because of the high humidity.由于湿度高，今晚屋子里不舒服。
• It's difficult to work because of the humidity.由于空气潮湿，工作很困难。

9 soaking   

v.浸，浸湿(soak的现在分词)；吸收，吸入adj.湿透的；浸透的n.浸湿，浸透adv.湿透地

参考例句：

• That coat is soaking—take it off. 上衣湿透了—脱下来吧。
• I tried to squeeze the water out of my soaking skirt. 我用力拧掉我那件湿透了的裙子上的水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 proof   

adj.防...的，耐...的，能防护；n.校样，证据，证明；vt.检验，给...做防护措施

参考例句：

• He is living proof of the wonders of modern medicine.他是当代医学奇迹的活证明。
• The proof was fished up from some old papers.校样在旧文件中被找到了。

11 Scotland   

n.苏格兰

参考例句：

• He has been hiking round Scotland for a month.他围着苏格兰徒步旅行了一个月。
• Scotland is to the north of England.苏格兰在英格兰之北。

12 convinced   

adj.确信的；深信的；有坚定信仰的v.使确信(convince的过去分词)；说服

参考例句：

• I am convinced of her innocence. 我坚信她是清白无辜的。
• I'm convinced there's a jinx on this car. 我看这辆汽车是灾星。