WAEC Agricultural Science 2001 past questions and answers

Which of the following occupations is not associated with agriculture?

1. A.Production of polythene
2. B.Production of honey
3. C.Fertilizer production
4. D.Saw-milling

Which of the following factors most influences the standard of living of individuals in a community?

1. A.Food crop production
2. B.Availability of machinery
3. C.Production of raw materials
4. D.Foreign exchange earnings.

The factors hindering the development of agriculture in West Africa include the following except

1. A.land tenure system
2. B.inadequate rural infrastructure
3. C.lack of rural markets
4. D.poor transportation facilities.

The primary role of government in agricultural development is to

1. A.provide improved homesteads for farmers
2. B.formulate good agricultural policies
3. C.provide extension services
4. D.sell farmers' produce through export.

Which of the following statements about land is not correct?

1. A.It is a basic requirement for production
2. B.Its supply is limited
3. C.Indiscriminate use can cause it to deteriorate
4. D.It can be relocated.

Poaching is prohibited in game reserves in order to

1. A.preserve wildlife
2. B.starve hunters
3. C.reduce wildlife population
4. D.protect hunters from wild animals.

In crop plants, high temperatures may cause

1. A.premature dropping of fruits
2. B.delayed ripening of fruits
3. C.formation of woody stems
4. D.prolonged drying of seeds.

A physical factor affecting crop production is

1. A.man
2. B.temperature
3. C.micro organisms
4. D.vegetation

The most active agent of physical weathering of rocks in arid regions is

1. A.ice
2. B.water
3. C.wind
4. D.animals.

The chemical weathering that is responsible for changing haematite to limestone is

1. A.hydration
2. B.solution
3. C.oxidation
4. D.hydrolysis.

Liming is used to correct soil's

1. A.neutrality
2. B.acidity
3. C.cation exchange capacity
4. D.porosity.

A vertical section through the soil is referred to as soil

1. A.profile
2. B.horizon
3. C.structure
4. D.texture

In the determination of soil texture, a soil sample was found to be smooth and powdery when dry and formed a cast when wet. That soil is

1. A.clay
2. B.silt
3. C.loam
4. D.sand

Which of the following mineral elements is essential for chlorophyll formation?

1. A.Sodium
2. B.Molybdenum
3. C.Boron
4. D.Magnesium

Replenishing soil nutrients involves the following except

1. A.leaching
2. B.fallowing
3. C.cover cropping
4. D.liming.

Which of the following is not a source of farm power?

1. A.Wind
2. B.Bull
3. C.Tractor
4. D.Plough

Which of the following sources of farm power will assist in the tillage of more land per unit time?

1. A.Man
2. B.Animal
3. C.Wind
4. D.Machine

A farm tool used for harvesting heads of rice is the

1. A.shear
2. B.secateur
3. C.sickle
4. D.rake

Which of the following gives the correct order of usage of tillage implements on a virgin land?

1. A.Harrow → Ridger → Plough
2. B.Ridger → Plough → Harrow
3. C.Harrow → Plough → Ridger
4. D.Plough → Harrow → Ridger

Farm surveying can be defined as the

1. A.levelling of land during road construction
2. B.sighting of structures through a theodolite
3. C.making measurements on land from which maps are drawn
4. D.estimation of the type and properties of soil on a farm.

Farm survey equipment include the following except

1. A.cross staff
2. B.Abney level
3. C.datum
4. D.chain

The type of survey used in determining the flatness or steepness of a farmland is

1. A.chain survey
2. B.topographical survey
3. C.soil survey
4. D.traverse survey.

Which of the following cereal crops most requires nursery practices?

1. A.Maize
2. B.Rice
3. C.Millet
4. D.Guinea corn

Oil palm trees do well in soils with pH level of

1. A.2.5 – 3.5
2. B.3.5 – 4.5
3. C.5.5 – 6.5
4. D.6.5 – 7.5

The optimum temperature for storing yam tuber under cold storage is

1. A.7°C
2. B.9°C
3. C.13°C
4. D.15°C

Which of the following is not an agricultural significance of stems to crops?

1. A.Modified form serve as food for man
2. B.Provision of timber
3. C.Useful as materials for propagation
4. D.Useful for cross-breeding in crops.

During the production of palm oil, the oil palm fruits are boiled in order to

1. A.extract the raw oil from the epicarp
2. B.prevent high level of oil rancidity
3. C.ease separation of mesocarp from the endocarp
4. D.extract oil from the kernel.

If the recommended seed rate of maize is 20 kg per hectare, calculate the amount of seeds required for 1.8 hectares of farmland.

1. A.11.0 kg
2. B.16.0 kg
3. C.26.0 kg
4. D.36.0 kg

The main vertebrate pests of rice are

1. A.squirrels
2. B.quela birds
3. C.bush fowls
4. D.monkeys.

Which of the following statements is true about the effect of nematodes on plants?

1. A.The plants wilt
2. B.Flowering is induced
3. C.The roots grow faster
4. D.Leaves develop a mosaic appearance

Which of the following statements is not true about weeds?

1. A.Some weeds are parasitic on crop plants
2. B.Weeds may harbour crop diseases
3. C.All weeds are grasses
4. D.Weeds reduce the nutritional value of a pasture

The diagram shows the crossing of a long fruited tomato (L) with a round fruited tomato plant (l). What will be the genotype ratio of the second filial generation?

1. A.3:1
2. B.1:3
3. C.1:2:1
4. D.1:1:2

The diagram shows the crossing of a long fruited tomato (L) with a round fruited tomato plant (l). The production of L and l in stage II is achieved through the process of

1. A.segregation
2. B.assortment
3. C.mutation
4. D.recessiveness.

The diagram shows the crossing of a long fruited tomato (L) with a round fruited tomato plant (l). Assuming complete dominance, the tomato fruits in stage III are all

1. A.long
2. B.short
3. C.oval
4. D.shapeless

The diagram shows the crossing of a long fruited tomato (L) with a round fruited tomato plant (l). The plants in stage III are all

1. A.heterozygotes
2. B.homozygotes
3. C.mutants
4. D.polyhybrids.

In a tannery, the raw materials for the manufacture of leather are

1. A.hides and hair
2. B.skin and fur
3. C.hides and skin
4. D.hair and fur.

The part of the digestive tract of birds which secrete gastric juice is the

1. A.oesophagus
2. B.proventriculus
3. C.gizzard
4. D.crop

The hormone which is secreted by the testes and is responsible for stimulating male sexual characteristics is known as

1. A.progesterone
2. B.testosterone
3. C.gonadotropin
4. D.oestrogen.

Production of chicks on a large scale can be achieved using a/an

1. A.incubator
2. B.broiler
3. C.candler
4. D.debeaker.

A broiler starter feed should contain

1. A.high protein but low carbohydrate content
2. B.low protein but high carbohydrate content
3. C.low protein and carbohydrate content
4. D.high protein and carbohydrate content.

In animal nutrition, iodine is essential for the production of

1. A.thyroxin
2. B.oxytocin
3. C.insulin
4. D.progesterone.

The natural ability of the body of farm animals to resist invasion of diseases is called

1. A.quarantine
2. B.vaccination
3. C.immunity
4. D.isolation

In cattle, constant coughing with production of blood stained sputum are signs of

1. A.rinderpest
2. B.anthrax
3. C.brucellosis
4. D.tuberculosis

An example of a viral disease of farm animals is

1. A.coccidiosis
2. B.mastitis
3. C.foot rot
4. D.newcastle disease.

The part of the body normally affected by fowl pox disease is the

1. A.comb
2. B.beak
3. C.feather
4. D.vent

The eradication of tsetse flies can prevent

1. A.coccidiosis
2. B.aspergillosis
3. C.tuberculosis
4. D.trypanosomiasis.

A tapeworm absorbs food from its host through the

1. A.mouth
2. B.scolex
3. C.hook
4. D.body surface

A herbivorous fish specie which breeds fast and is suitable for culture in a pond is

1. A.Clarias lazera
2. B.Tilapia zilli
3. C.Gymnarchus niloticus
4. D.Chrysichythys nigrodigitatus.

Which of the following is not true about adding organic manure to a fish pond? It

1. A.reduces the pH of water considerably
2. B.accelerates the growth of planktons
3. C.leads to water pollution
4. D.leads to the depletion of oxygen

The type of labour available to peasant farmers is

1. A.family labour
2. B.paid labour
3. C.skilled labour
4. D.migrant labour

The factor of production whose reward is profit is

1. A.land
2. B.labour
3. C.capital
4. D.entrepreneurship

The demand for agricultural produce is generally

1. A.elastic
2. B.inelastic
3. C.unitary
4. D.static

Given a normal situation, what effect will an increase in the supply of cowpea have on its market price? The price

1. A.increases
2. B.decreases
3. C.is unaffected
4. D.is unpredictable.

Which of the following is an effect of stability of market price in agricultural production?

1. A.Profit of the producer would be constant with constant input cost
2. B.Wholesalers earn more from sales
3. C.Profit of the retailer will be decreased
4. D.Consumers will look for cheaper alternatives.

Rural farmers mostly obtain loans from

1. A.Government
2. B.International Monetary Fund
3. C.Merchant banks
4. D.Money lenders

Marketing processes do not include

1. A.production
2. B.assembling
3. C.distribution
4. D.processing

Artificial scarcity of agricultural produce is often caused by the following marketing agents except

1. A.farmers
2. B.wholesalers
3. C.middlemen
4. D.co-operatives

(a) State four merits of each of the following: (i) agriculture; (ii) forestry; (iii) wildlife conservation.
(b) List four non-agricultural uses of land.

(a) Describe briefly four types of individual land tenure systems.
(b) List four advantages and four disadvantages of the land use act.

(a) Discuss three effects of each of the following factors on crop production: (i) water; (ii) air; (iii) soil microbes.
(b) List three edaphic and four climatic factors that affect crop productivity.

(a) Explain briefly the processes of formation of (i) igneous rock; (ii) sedimentary rock; (iii) metamorphic rock.
(b) Give two examples of each of igneous and metamorphic rock and three examples of sedimentary rock.

Explain pasture management practices under the following sub-headings:
(a) land preparation;
(b) three methods of propagation;
(c) two methods of sowing;
(d) fertilizer application;
(e) grazing.
(f) four management practices other than fertilizing and grazing.

Give an account of the production of banana, using the following sub-headings:
(a) one common variety;
(b) planting materials;
(c) propagation;
(d) husbandry;
(e) two common pests;
(f) two common diseases and how each is controlled;
(g) maturity period.

(a) Write short notes on the following: (i) maintenance ration; (ii) production ration; (iii) balanced ration; (iv) malnutrition.
(b) Mention four factors normally considered when deciding the type of feed an animal should be placed on.

(a) Describe with the aid of a diagram the stomach of a named ruminant.
(b) State three functions of the first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant.

(a) Explain the following terms: (i) appreciation; (ii) depreciation; (iii) salvage value.
(b) List two items on the farm which will normally appreciate in value.
(c) A farmer bought a fairly used Fiat tractor for N12,000.00 in 1988. He later sold it for N3,000.00 in 1997 when he discovered that it was expensive to maintain. Find the tractor's: (i) salvage value; (ii) overall depreciation; (iii) annual depreciation.

(a) Briefly explain (i) agricultural finance; (ii) agricultural credit.
(b) Explain four significance of agricultural finance.
(c) Mention one problem farmers encounter in obtaining credits from the following credit sources: (i) commercial banks; (ii) community banks; (iii) money lenders; (iv) family sources.