1. What is a scarecrow?
A. A device to scare birds
B. A device to keep farmers company
C. A device to motivate gardeners
D. A device to entertain visitors

A. A device to scare birds
TOPICS: A scarecrow is a device (traditionally a mannequin) that is used to discourage birds such as crows from disturbing crops.

2. Why is it a scarecrow instead of a scarebird?
A. Crows are more easily frightened
B. Crows are not easily frightened
C. Crows are the biggest problem bird
D. Crows are the least problem bird

C. Crows are the biggest problem bird
TOPICS: Crows are large and eat a lot plus they are smart and tend to congregate in large groups. The combination makes them one of the biggest problem birds for farmers and gardeners.

3. What other types of "scares" do gardeners and farmers use to repel crows?
A. Reflective ribbons
B. Noise guns
C. Dead crows
D. Pictures of cats
E. A, B, and C

E. A, B, and C
TOPICS: Modern scarecrows seldom take a human shape. On California farmland, highly reflective aluminized PET film ribbons are tied to the plants to create shimmers from the sun. Another approach are automatic noise guns powered with propane gas. In the southern Appalachians another common method of scaring off crows was use of a dead crow hung upside down from a pole.

4. How are crows a problem?
A. Eat recently cast seed
B. Pull up recently sprouted corn and other plants
C. Return to the same place nightly
D. Gather in a group of 20 to 30
E. All of the above

E. All of the above
TOPICS: Crows can be a problem in Spring gardens. They can work down a row pulling up recently sprouted corn to eat the remaining seed/seedlings. Not only do crows feed on recently cast seed, they also gather nightly, starting with groups of a half dozen which then unite to form a group of 20 to 30 and so on until the flock is quite large and noisy. It is their habit to return to the same place each night.

5. According to L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", the scarecrow wanted what more than anything?
A. A home
B. A brain
C. A heart
D. Courage

B. A brain
TOPICS: The scarecrow was commonly used in 19th century English Literature, as shown by its presence in the L. Frank Baum tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, as one of the main protagonists. The Scarecrow of Oz was searching for brains from the Great Wizard. In the film The Wizard of Oz The Scarecrow of Oz was portraited by Ray Bolger.

6. In the United Kingdom, where the use of scarecrows as a protector of crops goes back to times immemorial, and where dialects were rife, there are a wide range of alternative names. Which is not another name for scarecrow?
A. Mommet
B. Murmet
C. Hodmedod
D. Tattie bogle
E. They are all scarecrow names

E. They are all scarecrow names
TOPICS: It is the Mommet in Somerset, the Murmet in Devon, the Hodmedod in Berkshire, and the Tattie bogle in Scotland.

7. One of the oldest designs of bird scarer is the scarecrow in the shape of a human figure, but humans have created many different forms of bird scarers. Which is a real bird scarer?
A. Bubbles
B. Balloons
C. Kites
D. B and C

D. B and C
TOPICS: It's true both balloons and kites are used to scare birds although reportedly the kites are more effective as many species of bird are also naturally afraid of predators such as birds of prey.