Loch Ness Uncovered: Chapters 10–13

by Rebecca Siegel
In Scotland in the 1930s, a soon-to-be worldwide phenomenon began — the Loch Ness Monster! The history of this now-debunked hoax is filled with intriguing characters, sensational anecdotes, and most importantly, a real-life lesson in the dangers of fake news.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–16, Chapters 17–22
15 words 2 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sensational
    causing intense interest, curiosity, or emotion
    In the late 19th century, two New York newspapers had gotten so wrapped up in their own battle for readers that a new term was coined to describe their sensational, exaggerated, problematic copy: yellow journalism.
  2. yellow journalism
    sensationalist reporting or headlines
    In the late 19th century, two New York newspapers had gotten so wrapped up in their own battle for readers that a new term was coined to describe their sensational, exaggerated, problematic copy: yellow journalism.
  3. tactics
    a plan for attaining a particular goal
    Tactics like fabricated drama, contests, and stunts made newspapers into entertaining products that mixed fact and fiction without clearly identifying either.
  4. fabricated
    formed or conceived by the imagination
    Tactics like fabricated drama, contests, and stunts made newspapers into entertaining products that mixed fact and fiction without clearly identifying either.
  5. nominate
    propose as a candidate for some honor
    Two months after its release, he was nominated to become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
  6. storied
    having an illustrious past
    This group had a storied history and a roster of well-known explorers. Men like Charles Darwin and David Livingstone had been fellows.
  7. deduce
    conclude by reasoning
    Wetherell had found a set of large, four-fingered footprints on the loch’s shore. He deduced that they’d come from a “very powerful soft-footed animal about 20ft long.”
  8. groundbreaking
    introducing new ideas or creative methods
    He made a cast of one of the monster’s prints, then wrapped it carefully and sent it off to London’s British Museum (Natural History). There, he boasted to the press, the experts could study his groundbreaking discovery.
  9. hoax
    something intended to deceive
    A week after Calman’s letter identified the footprints as belonging to a dried hippo foot, the word “hoax” began circulating in Scottish papers.
  10. about-face
    a major change in attitude or principle or point of view
    Tales from local fishers backed this theory up. Recently, they had been hauling in salmon that looked as though they’d been chewed by seals. In a bold about-face, Wetherell even jumped onto this trend.
  11. sordid
    unethical or dishonest
    While the Mail did this dance, competing newspapers delighted in covering the hippo-foot scandal. Reynolds’s newspaper ran a gleeful piece entitled “Hip-Hip-O For the Monster” that highlighted the whole sordid affair.
  12. raconteur
    a person skilled in telling anecdotes
    Ian had clearly inherited his father’s storytelling skills. “He was a great raconteur,” his son would later say, “he kept everyone amused.” Ian could weave a story so artfully he’d captivate an entire room.
  13. concoct
    devise or invent
    This skill had come in handy in his acting career, of course, but now it would help as the pair concocted their devious plot.
  14. devious
    characterized by insincerity or deceit
    This skill had come in handy in his acting career, of course, but now it would help as the pair concocted their devious plot.
  15. plucky
    marked by determination in the face of difficulties
    Spurling couldn’t be roped in either. It would be far too easy for a plucky reporter to realize he was Wetherell’s stepson.
Created on Thu Aug 27 19:08:55 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Sep 15 11:40:38 EDT 2026)

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