WAEC SSCE - Agricultural Science - 2018
Question 1 Report
The use of inorganic fertilizer is preferable to organic manure because inorganic fertilizer
Question 2 Report
Which of the following implements is not a tractor-coupled implement?
Answer Details
The sheller is not a tractor-coupled implement. A tractor-coupled implement is an equipment that is designed to be attached or hooked to a tractor to perform a specific task. For instance, a plough is an implement that is attached to a tractor to prepare the soil for planting by turning the soil over, while a harrow is used to smooth and level the soil after ploughing. A ridger, on the other hand, is used to form ridges on the soil for planting crops like potatoes. A sheller, however, is a machine that is used to remove the outer shell or husk of grains such as maize, beans, and peas. It is usually a standalone equipment that is powered by electricity or a diesel engine, and it does not require a tractor to function. Therefore, the sheller is not a tractor-coupled implement.
Question 3 Report
In the diagram illustrated above, chalaza is formed in the part labelled
Answer Details
Question 4 Report
Which of the following is an example of igneous rock?
Answer Details
An igneous rock is a type of rock that forms from the solidification of molten or partially molten material, such as magma or lava. Basalt is an example of igneous rock because it is formed by the rapid cooling of lava on the Earth's surface. As lava cools, it solidifies and hardens to form solid rock. Basalt is typically dark in color and has a fine-grained texture. On the other hand, Dolomite, Limestone, and Marble are all examples of sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks respectively, and are not formed from solidified lava or magma. Dolomite and Limestone are formed from the accumulation of shells, coral, and other organic debris, while marble is formed from the metamorphism of limestone under intense heat and pressure.
Question 5 Report
Ornamental plants are commonly used for the following purposes except
Answer Details
Ornamental plants are usually grown for their beauty and aesthetic appeal, making them ideal for exterior decorations in gardens, homes, and public spaces. These plants are specifically cultivated for their visual appeal rather than their utility or practical purposes. They are not typically used as sources of perfumes or for providing shade, as their primary function is to enhance the aesthetic value of their surroundings. Additionally, ornamental plants are not commonly used as bedding materials for animals, as they are not suitable for providing the necessary comfort and support for animals to rest on.
Question 6 Report
In the diagram illustrated above, fertilization takes place in the part labelled
Answer Details
Question 7 Report
The animal by-product illustrated in the diagram above may be prepared and fed to farm animals as a source of
Question 8 Report
Which of the following statements is not true about electrical power? It
Question 9 Report
A farmer observed that all his day-old chicks clustered around the source of heat in a brooder house. This observation is likely due to
Answer Details
The observation of the day-old chicks clustering around the source of heat in the brooder house is likely due to low temperature. Chicks have a natural instinct to gather around a heat source to maintain their body temperature, which is crucial for their survival and growth. This behavior is known as thermoregulation, and it helps the chicks stay warm and comfortable in their environment.
Question 10 Report
The diagram above illustrates a crop pest. What kind of pest is this?
Answer Details
The pest shown in the diagram is a chewing insect pest. Chewing insect pests are pests that feed on crops by chewing and consuming their plant tissue, resulting in damage or destruction of the crops. Examples of chewing insect pests include caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles. In the diagram, the pest has visible mandibles, which are used for chewing and consuming the plant material. Therefore, it can be concluded that the pest shown in the diagram is a chewing insect pest.
Question 11 Report
Assuming that brown colour is dominant over black colour in cowpea, what percentage of the F1 will have brown colour , if a homozygous brown cowpea is crossed with a homozygous black cowpea?
Answer Details
The offspring resulting from the cross of a homozygous brown cowpea and a homozygous black cowpea are called F1 generation. Assuming that brown color is dominant over black color, the genotype of the homozygous brown cowpea can be represented as BB (where B represents the allele for brown color) and the genotype of the homozygous black cowpea can be represented as bb (where b represents the allele for black color). When these two plants are crossed, all the F1 offspring will be heterozygous (Bb) because they receive one allele from each parent. Since brown color is dominant over black color, all the heterozygous offspring will display the brown color. Therefore, the percentage of F1 offspring with brown color will be 100%. In summary, if a homozygous brown cowpea is crossed with a homozygous black cowpea, all the F1 offspring will be heterozygous (Bb) and display the dominant brown color. Thus, the percentage of F1 offspring with brown color will be 100%.
Question 12 Report
Which of the following practices does not replenish lost soil nutrients?
Answer Details
Bush burning does not replenish lost soil nutrients. In fact, it can have the opposite effect by releasing carbon and other nutrients into the atmosphere instead of returning them to the soil. This can lead to a decrease in soil fertility over time. Crop rotation involves planting different crops in the same field over time, which can help restore soil nutrients and prevent soil depletion. Fallowing involves leaving fields unplanted for a period of time to allow the soil to recover and rebuild its nutrient levels. Liming involves adding lime to soil to increase its pH levels, which can improve nutrient availability for plants. Therefore, bush burning is the practice that does not replenish lost soil nutrients.
Question 13 Report
The structure of loam could be described as
Answer Details
The structure of loam could be described as crumbly. Loam is a type of soil that is made up of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles in roughly equal proportions. This balanced composition gives loam its unique texture, which is crumbly and friable. This means that it can be easily broken down into small pieces or crumbs when you squeeze it in your hand. This crumbly texture allows for good water retention and air circulation, making loam a suitable soil for growing a variety of plants.
Question 14 Report
A disadvantage of vegetative propagation is that
Answer Details
A disadvantage of vegetative propagation is that diseases are easily transferred to offspring. This is because in vegetative propagation, new plants are grown from a piece of the parent plant, such as a cutting or a runner. If the parent plant is infected with a disease, the disease can be easily passed on to the offspring, as they are genetically identical to the parent plant. This can lead to the spread of the disease throughout a population of plants, and can make it difficult to control the disease. On the other hand, the advantage of vegetative propagation is that the plants are true to type, meaning they have the same genetic characteristics as the parent plant.
Question 15 Report
A groundnut variety produces a steady yield of 350kg per hectare. What will be the yield of the variety on a 10-hectare farm?
Answer Details
The yield of the groundnut variety on a 10-hectare farm will be 3,500kg. The yield of the groundnut variety is given as 350kg per hectare. Therefore, to find the yield of the variety on a 10-hectare farm, we need to multiply the yield per hectare by the number of hectares. Mathematically, we can represent this as: Yield on 10-hectare farm = Yield per hectare x Number of hectares Yield on 10-hectare farm = 350kg/ha x 10ha Yield on 10-hectare farm = 3,500kg Therefore, the yield of the groundnut variety on a 10-hectare farm will be 3,500kg.
Question 16 Report
A groundnut plant showing stunted growth with yellow or mottled leaves is likely to be infected with
Answer Details
The groundnut plant showing stunted growth with yellow or mottled leaves is likely to be infected with Rosette. Rosette is a viral disease that affects groundnut plants and causes stunted growth with yellow or mottled leaves. The virus is transmitted by an eriophyid mite and can also cause the plant to produce smaller pods and fewer nuts. The infected plants also exhibit the formation of small rosettes of leaves at the top of the plant, which is a characteristic symptom of this disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Rosette, and the only way to manage it is by preventing the spread of the disease through the use of disease-free seed, controlling the mite population, and removing infected plants from the field.
Question 17 Report