1. Agricultural production in West Africa can be improved by the following practices except the

A. use of modern farm implements by farmers
B. legislation of communal land holding system ✔

C. application of proven agricultural research findings
D. supply of improved seeds and livestock to farmers

Explanation:
Legislation of communal land holding system often restricts individual ownership, which may limit access to credit and mechanization. Other options directly enhance agricultural productivity.

2. A limitation to the practice of shifting cultivation in modern day agriculture is

A. prevalence of crop diseases
B. farm mechanization
C. population pressure ✔

D. nomadic agriculture

Explanation:
High population pressure reduces fallow periods, making shifting cultivation unsustainable.

3. Government finances agriculture through the following means except

A. reduction of tariffs on agricultural inputs
B. granting of subsidies to farmers
C. establishment of agricultural colleges ✔

D. establishment of credit sources

Explanation:
Agricultural colleges are for training and research, not direct financing.

4. The following are factors that affect agricultural development in West Africa except

A. transportation
B. rainfall
C. land tenure
D. pests and diseases ✔

Explanation:
Pests and diseases affect yield but are not a primary determinant of agricultural development like infrastructure, rainfall, or land tenure.

5. Termites are useful in agriculture because they

A. help control plant population
B. increase soil moisture
C. improve soil aeration ✔

D. regulate soil temperature

Explanation:
Termites burrow in soil, enhancing aeration and improving soil structure.

6. A fresh soil sample of mass $180\,\text{g}$ had a mass of $120\,\text{g}$ after oven-drying. Determine the percentage water content of the soil.

A. 40.4% ✔
B. 38.3%
C. 35.3%
D. 33.3%

Explanation:
Percentage water content is calculated as: Water content (%) = Wet mass - Dry mass Wet mass × 100 Water content (%)= Wet mass Wet mass - Dry mass ×100 = 180 − 120 180 × 100 = 60 180 × 100 = 33.3 % = 180 180−120 ×100= 180 60 ×100=33.3% (Correction: actually 33.3% is correct based on calculation, not 40.4% — careful with given options.)

7. The earthworm is important to the farmer because it

A. improves soil texture
B. destroys soil pathogens
C. checks soil erosion
D. improves soil structure ✔

Explanation:
Earthworms digest soil and organic matter, improving structure and fertility.

8. The soil water that is readily available for absorption by plant roots is called

A. capillary water ✔
B. gravitational water
C. hygroscopic water
D. superfluous water

Explanation:
Capillary water is held in small pores and is available for plant uptake.

9. Farmers practice mixed farming because they can

A. easily secure loan to expand their farms
B. specialize in either the growing of crops or rearing of animals
C. use the manure from the animals to fertilize their crops ✔
D. easily control pests and diseases on their farms

Explanation:
Animal manure provides nutrients for crops, enhancing productivity.

10. Which of the following statements is a correct deduction from the information?

A. x is clay, y is sand and z is loam
B. x is sand, y is clay and z is loam
C. x is loam, y is sand and z is clay
D. x is sand, y is loam and z is clay ✔

Explanation:
Sandy soils have high permeability (more water passes), clay has low permeability, and loam is intermediate.

13. Which of the following factors should be considered in selecting cover crops? The cover crops must I. be easy to propagate II. compete with the main crops III. have roots capable of binding soils IV. be slow growing

A. I and II only
B. II and III only
C. I and III only ✔
D. III and IV only

Explanation:
Cover crops should be easy to grow and prevent soil erosion via binding roots; they should not compete with main crops excessively.

14. Which of the following terms is not associated with surface irrigation?

A. tile ✔
B. basin
C. dyke
D. furrow

Explanation:
Tile irrigation is a subsurface irrigation method, not surface irrigation.

15. Loss of nitrogen from the soil through the removal of oxygen from nitrates by bacteria is known as

A. ammonification
B. dehydration
C. dentrification ✔
D. nitrification

Explanation:
Denitrification converts nitrates to gaseous nitrogen, reducing soil nitrogen.

16. Which of the following statement are advantages of mulching? I. controls weeds II. conserves soil moisture III. increases soil temperature IV. reduces soil pH

A. I and II only ✔
B. I and III only
C. II and IV only
D. III and IV only

Explanation:
Mulching suppresses weeds and conserves soil moisture; it has minimal effect on pH or temperature increase.

17. Determine the weight of potassium in a $50\,\text{kg}$ NPK ($20:20:10$) bag of fertilizer.

A. $5.0\,\text{kg}$
B. $7.0\,\text{kg}$
C. $10.0\,\text{kg}$ ✔
D. $20.0\,\text{kg}$

Explanation:
Potassium percentage = 10% of 50 kg

$\textbf{Given:} \text{ Total weight of fertilizer } = 50\,\text{kg}$, $\text{ NPK ratio } = 20:20:10$ $ \text{Percentage of Potassium (K) } = 10\%$, $\text{Weight of Potassium (K)} = \text{Total weight} $, $ \times \frac{\text{Percentage of K}}{100}$, $ \text{Weight of K} = 50 \times \frac{10}{100}$, $\text{Weight of K} = 50 \times 0.1$, $ \text{Weight of K} = 5\,\text{kg}$

18. The farm power which is most adaptable to farm operation in West Africa is

A. animal power ✔
B. wind power
C. human power
D. solar power

Explanation:
Animal power is versatile and suitable for small-scale farms and varying terrains.

22. What form of obstruction was encountered by the students?

A. Tree
B. River ✔
C. Hill
D. Pond

Explanation:
The obstruction at point C is a water body, which is typically a river in farmland surveying.

23. If grains are not properly dried before storage, they are likely to

A. lose viability at a fast rate ✔
B. remain dormant for a long time
C. synthesize carbohydrate during storage
D. germinate faster when planted in the field

Explanation:
Moist grains are prone to fungal attack and spoilage, leading to loss of viability.

24. Which of the following combinations of activities gives the correct sequence of nursing seeds? I. watering of sown seeds II. making drills with a dibber III. covering seeds with palm fronds IV. sowing seeds in drills

A. II,IV,III and I ✔
B. III,II,I and IV
C. III,IV,II and I
D. II,III,IV and I

Explanation:
Correct sequence: 1) make drills, 2) sow seeds, 3) cover seeds, 4) water seeds.

25. If the recommended spacing for a tree crop is $2.5\,\text{m} \times 4.0\,\text{m}$. How many seedlings are required to plant $2$ hectares of farmland?

A. $8,000$ seedlings ✔
B. $3,000$ seedlings
C. $2,000$ seedlings
D. $1,000$ seedlings

Explanation:
1 hectare = $10,000\,\text{m}^2$, so $2$ hectares = $20,000\,\text{m}^2$ Area per tree = $2.5 \times 4 = 10,\text{m}^2$ Number of seedlings = $\frac{20,000}{10} = 2,000$ (Check: If the intended correct answer is 8,000, it assumes a spacing of 0.5 × 0.5 m; based on given spacing 2.5 × 4, correct calculation = 2,000.)

26. Which of the following processes are associated with rubber production? I. coagulation II. fermentation III. tapping

A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I,II and III ✔

Explanation:
Rubber production involves tapping latex from trees, coagulating it into sheets, and fermenting for quality.

27. The following crops require staking except

A. tomato
B. yam
C. pumpkin
D. guinea corn ✔

Explanation:
Guinea corn (sorghum) is self-supporting and does not need staking; other crops like tomato, yam, and pumpkin require staking or support.

28. Which of the following statements is/are correct? Yams stored in barns should be inspected at least once a week to I. remove rotten tubers II. remove sprouts from the rubbers III. prevent mouldiness in the rubbers

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I, II and III ✔

Explanation:
All measures are necessary to maintain yam quality and prevent loss during storage.

29. The frequency of weed control on a tomato farm does not depend on

A. rainfall
B. soil fertility ✔
C. nearness to homestead
D. planting distance of crops

Explanation:
Soil fertility does not affect weed growth directly; rainfall, crop spacing, and location influence weed control frequency.

30. Citrus is usually propagated by

A. budding ✔
B. layering
C. use of stem cuttings
D. use of bulbs

Explanation:
Budding ensures true-to-type citrus trees and is the preferred method.

31. The botanical name of groundnut is

A. vigna unguiculata
B. arachis hypogaea ✔
C. phaseolus vulgaris
D. glycine max

Explanation:
Groundnut is scientifically named Arachis hypogaea.

32. Ornamental plants reduce noise pollution in the environment by

A. scattering sound energy
B. reflecting sound waves
C. dispersing sound waves
D. absorbing sound energy ✔

Explanation:
Ornamental plants act as sound absorbers, reducing noise levels in their surroundings.

33. Which of the following statement about the effects of diseases on crops are true? Reduction in I. quality of products II. photosynthetic ability III. cost of production IV. yield of the produce

A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. I,II and III only
D. I,II and IV only ✔

Explanation:
Diseases reduce photosynthesis and yield, which also affects quality. Cost of production may increase, but the key effects are quality, photosynthesis, and yield.

34. Which of the following insect-pests possesses biting and chewing mouthparts?

A. grasshopper ✔
B. weevil
C. aphid
D. cotton stainer

Explanation:
Grasshoppers have strong mandibles for biting and chewing plant tissue.

35. Striga spp. is a parasitic weed of

A. cotton
B. orange
C. groundnut
D. sorghum ✔

Explanation:
Striga spp. commonly parasitizes cereals such as sorghum, millet, and maize.

36. The first activity to undertake before establishing a plantation is to

A. survey the land ✔
B. clear the land
C. prepare the seed beds
D. raise seedlings

Explanation:
Surveying ensures accurate land measurement and layout before clearing or planting.

37. Fruits should be harvested at the appropriate time in order to

A. prevent them from bruising
B. minimize their sugar content
C. reap increased fruiting
D. ensure good quality produce ✔

Explanation:
Timely harvesting ensures fruits are of good quality, with proper flavor, texture, and shelf life.

38. Which of the following crops are useful to the soap-making industry? I. kolanut II. coconut III. shea nut

A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only ✔
D. I,II and III

Explanation:
Coconut and shea nut are used to produce oils for soap making; kolanut is not.

39. An advantage of rotational grazing is that

A. less labour is required
B. there is greater potential for extending the grazing season ✔
C. animals obtain all the different kinds of forage
D. animals can graze without danger of pest attack

Explanation:
Rotational grazing allows pastures to recover, extending the grazing season and improving sustainability.

40. A sheep gained $20\,\text{kg}$ of weight after consuming $60\,\text{kg}$ of feed. Determine the feed conversion ratio.

A. 1:2 ✔
B. 2:3
C. 3:1
D. 5:4

Explanation:
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) = $\frac{\text{Feed consumed}}{\text{Weight gain}}$

$ \textbf{Given:} \text{ Feed consumed }$, $= 60\,\text{kg}, \text{ Weight gain } = 20\,\text{kg}$; $\text{Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)}$, $= \frac{\text{Feed consumed}}{\text{Weight gain}}$ $\text{FCR} = \frac{60}{20}$ $\text{FCR} = 3:1$