单选题 One sure sign of the fall season is the sight of scarecrows everywhere. Scarecrows are used for practical reasons by farmers, and as decorations by many people. You can find scarecrows on farms and in yards, and also on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other clothing.
Scarecrows were first used over 2000 years ago by farmers who needed to keep birds out of their fields. Crows and blackbirds were always eating the vegetable crops grown by farmers. The farmers had to do something to stop the crows from coming into the fields. They made these human-like objects out of anything they could find. They used sticks, hay, and pine straw, and dressed the scarecrows in old clothing. The farmers tried their best to make these creations look like real people in a field or garden. They hoped that the crows would see the "person" standing in the field and be afraid of it.
Scarecrows are still seen today, but most farmers use other things now to get rid of pesky animals. Scarecrows are more often a decoration, and a way to mark the beginning of fall.

单选题 When did farmers first begin using scarecrows in their fields?
[A] Last year.
[B] 10 years ago.
[C] 2000 years ago.
[D] Every fall.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[名师精解] 答案在第二段的第一句话：Scarecrows were first used over 2000 years ago by farmers who needed to keep birds out of their fields．
[解题秘籍] 注意first used这个表达，另外2000 years ago也是重要信息。

单选题 Why did the farmers need scarecrows?
[A] The crops were dying.
[B] They were lovely figures.
[C] They need shade from the hot sun.
[D] Crows ate their crops.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[名师精解] 答案在第二段的这句话中：Crows and blackbirds were always eating the vegetable crops grown by farmers．因此，农夫做些稻草人来吓唬乌鸦。
[解题秘籍] 表原因的句子一般放在前面，后面常用so，therefore，thus等词。这里虽然没有这些词，但上下文隐含了这层意思。

单选题 Which of the following is NOT used to make a scarecrow?
[A] Hay.
[B] Sticks.
[C] Clothing.
[D] Food.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[名师精解] 文章中说：They made these human-like objects out of anything they could find. They used sticks, hay, and pine straw, and dressed the scarecrows in old clothing．农夫用他们能找到的任何材料做成人形的东西，然后举例说用棍棒、干草、松木条和旧布，但没有说食物。
[解题秘籍] 可用排除法解题，把文章中提及的用过的材料排除。

单选题 Farmers today use scarecrows to ______.
[A] get rid of bad luck
[B] decorate their houses
[C] frighten the birds away
[D] show that autumn has come

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[名师精解] 答案在最后一段：Scarecrows are still seen today, but most farmers use other things now to get rid of pesky animals. Scarecrows are more often a decoration, and a way to mark the beginning of fall．
[解题秘籍] 注意still，表示仍然在用；注意but，表示转折。农夫现在有别的办法驱走讨厌的动物。注意more often，表示“更常用来”，从这些关键词可看出，稻草人如今多用来作装饰，表示秋天来临了。