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Appalachian Folklore Trivia Quiz

The Appalachian Mountains have been the birthplace of many wives' tales and much folklore. See how much you know about folk wisdom.

A multiple-choice quiz by apologetic_cynic. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
apologetic_cynic

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
87,539

Updated
May 15 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2973

Last 3 plays: Guest 198 (6/10), Guest 208 (2/10), Guest 172 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A period of unusually warm weather following the first frost in autumn is called what? Hint

Harvest Heat

Last Gasp

Uncomfortable

Indian Summer

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Similar to question 1, what is a period of unusually cool weather in late spring or early summer called? Hint

Indian Winter

Killing Frost

Katydid Frost

Blackberry Winter

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Mountain lore says that if a fire makes a sound like someone walking, or if the smoke travels down the side of the chimney and clings to the ground, then the weather will do what soon? Hint

It will rain soon.

It will warm up soon.

It will snow soon.

It will turn very cold soon.

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. If a "woolly worm" has more brown fur instead of black, what does this indicate? Hint

It will be a mild winter

It will snow soon

It will be a bad winter

Winter will end soon

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. When cows bunch together in a huddle, what is about to happen? Hint

an earthquake

a storm

feeding time

snow

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. If hornets build their nest in the lower branches of a tree, what does this indicate? Hint

A severe winter

A mild winter

Rain soon

They are lazy, and don't want to fly so far to get you

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. If an owl hoots on the east side of a mountain, what does this indicate? Hint

Fair weather

Dry weather

A lunar eclipse

Bad weather

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What natural remedy is recommended for water retention? Hint

Tea made from willow bark

Ginseng

Poke Sallet

A poultice made from onions boiled in milk

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. When ants are observed travelling in a straight line what does this indicate? Hint

none of these

cold weather soon

rain soon

fair weather

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. If you can see the backs of the leaves on trees what does it indicate? Hint

you are lying under the tree

storms soon

cold weather

warm weather

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 06 2024 : Guest 198: 6/10
Dec 04 2024 : Guest 208: 2/10
Dec 04 2024 : Guest 172: 2/10
Dec 03 2024 : Guest 50: 1/10
Nov 27 2024 : Guest 100: 3/10
Nov 22 2024 : Guest 174: 8/10
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 104: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A period of unusually warm weather following the first frost in autumn is called what?

Answer: Indian Summer

Although this phenomenon is uncomfortable, it is actually called Indian Summer.

2. Similar to question 1, what is a period of unusually cool weather in late spring or early summer called?

Answer: Blackberry Winter

Blackberry Winter generally is not freezing weather. It usually just a period of cooler than usual weather.

3. Mountain lore says that if a fire makes a sound like someone walking, or if the smoke travels down the side of the chimney and clings to the ground, then the weather will do what soon?

Answer: It will snow soon.

The sound made by the fire is called "tramping". It supposedly sounds like a man crunching through the snow. Also a ring of light encircling the moon is an indication of precipitation soon. The ring is caused by moonlight refracting off of ice crystals in the cold air. If you count the stars inside the ring, that is the number of days until the precipitation arrives. This actually works!

4. If a "woolly worm" has more brown fur instead of black, what does this indicate?

Answer: It will be a mild winter

Woolly worms are really a caterpillar that turn into the Isabella Tiger Moth. Their scientific name is Pyrrharctia isabella. Last year I saw one, and it had very little black fur. Sure enough we had a mild winter all season.

5. When cows bunch together in a huddle, what is about to happen?

Answer: a storm

Usually by the time you see cows huddling, looking skyward, it's pitch black and about to storm already. So you really don't need their help to predict this one.

6. If hornets build their nest in the lower branches of a tree, what does this indicate?

Answer: A mild winter

According to theory, the snow will be as high as the nest - so the higher they place it, the more snow you can expect.

7. If an owl hoots on the east side of a mountain, what does this indicate?

Answer: Bad weather

Presumably owls would be on the east side of the mountain to avoid storms approaching from the west.

8. What natural remedy is recommended for water retention?

Answer: Tea made from willow bark

According to Cherokee folklore willow bark is a diuretic, and is usually boiled to make tea. I do not suggest trying this though. One should ALWAYS consult a doctor rather than relying on folk wisdom!

9. When ants are observed travelling in a straight line what does this indicate?

Answer: rain soon

If they scatter out, fair weather will arrive soon.

10. If you can see the backs of the leaves on trees what does it indicate?

Answer: storms soon

I suppose lying under a tree would allow you to see the bottoms of the leaves, but that's not folklore, it's just silly.

Source: Author apologetic_cynic

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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