Last week I went on a trip down memory lane to investigate a long-
standing mystery. Everyone has heard the tales of large wild cats of
hulking preportion, preying on the livestock of the foggy Bodmin Moor,
but it has been shown through darkened sightings and various videos that
what seems like a tall tale may well be true! I visited the moors to
investigate further, and there I learned a fascinating truth.
In the Moor, there is much local speculation, especially within the local
farmers who have lost livestock to the Beast. I met with one at his farm,
and he, along with most other locals, believes strongly that the beast is
real. He reported that everyone on the moors believes in the beast, and
strongly agree that it is impossible to be a dog. However, the locals did not
seem to believe that the beast had to be killed, just acknowledged and
controlled, which made me question if the beast was all it's hyped up to
be. By my next experience answered all my doubts for me.
It is rare to see a big cat in its natural habitat alone, but imagine this. You
are driving through the moors on a foggy November afternoon, when
you
round a corner and in front of you witness something only told of in
stories. A massive feline beast, muscular and powerful in stature but
smooth as silk it its liquid movements scurrying across the tarmac. Left
with a frantic heart and a longing to have recorded it, you become just
another witness to the Beast of Bodmin Moor. Well believe it or not, that
was me and I cannot deny what I saw that afternoon!
Now I may be a journalist, but even I am not ignorant enough to accept
was a trick of the light! I have to agree with the local population on the
beasts existence, even if some of their ideas are based on well pulled
hoaxes and darkened sightings. However, it is my opinion that the locals
should feel less harshly towards the creature, and that it is as much part of
the land now as the fog, and to be left alone. I do think though that in the
future it is likely that the wrong actions will be taken against the animal,
perhaps by a scared farmer or just a pride-hunting person, and that it is
likely that, like many legends, the Beast of Bodmin will fall into the
category of 'tall tale'.
Re-read the descriptions of:
(a) the appearance of the beast in paragraph 3, beginning 'As she
rounded...'
(b) the appearance of the farmer and his farm in paragraph 4, beginning 'A
little further...'
Select four powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices
should include imagery. Explain how each work or phrase is used
effectively in the context.