How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Troll representatives were questioned in the absence of goblins and judged not to understand anything that was being said to them; they were therefore classified as "beasts" despite their two-legged gait; merpeople were invited through translators to become "beings" for the first time; fairies, pixies, and gnomes, despite their humanoid appearance, were placed firmly in the "beast" category. (4.10)
Newt Scamander is explaining some of the compromises that came down under the new categorizing rules in 1811. They came down to this—you couldn't just label a creature by the way it walked or the way it talked. You had to look at its mind to figure out what it was. It was a novel idea.
Quote #2
The Acromantula is a monstrous eight-eyed spider capable of human speech. It originated in Borneo, where it inhabits dense jungle. Its distinctive features include the thick black hair that covers its body; its legspan, which may reach up to fifteen feet; its pincers, which produce a distinctive clicking sound when the Acromantula is excited or angry; and a poisonous secretion. (9.1)
Okay, so in the case of this giant, terrifying spider what you see is what you get—a freaky monster. Even though these Acromantula can talk and are super-intelligent, they also can't stop themselves from eating people. That's definitely why they wind up being grouped with other dangerous beasts.
Quote #3
The Chimaera is a rare Greek monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a dragon's tail. Vicious and bloodthirsty, the Chimaera is extremely dangerous. (11.4)
Again, you're mixing a couple of animals—a lion and a goat—to get an even more dangerous beast. Appearances are not deceiving you. This is one bad beastie.