WAEC SSCE - Geography - 1992

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Plants that manufacture food from simple inorganic substances are called autotrophs. Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food using energy from the sun or from chemical reactions. In the case of plants, they use a process called photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. During photosynthesis, plants capture the energy from the sun and use it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. This process takes place in specialized structures called chloroplasts, which are found in the leaves of the plant. Chlorophyll, a pigment found in the chloroplasts, is responsible for capturing the energy from the sun and using it to power photosynthesis. Autotrophs are also known as producers because they are the base of the food chain in most ecosystems. Other organisms, such as animals and some microbes, cannot produce their own food and rely on autotrophs (or other heterotrophs) for their energy needs. Therefore, the correct option is autotrophs.

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A catchment area is the area of land where all the rainwater or snowmelt that falls within that area flows to a common point, usually a river, lake or ocean. This water is collected by the land and runs off into waterways, where it can be used for drinking, irrigation, or other purposes. Essentially, it's the area of land through which a river flows and collects water from.

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The term used to describe a port that is auxiliary to another port further inland which cannot be reached by very large ships is "a river port". A river port is a port that is located on a river and is used for the loading and unloading of cargo from ships. River ports are usually smaller than seaports and are often used for transporting goods to and from inland areas that are not accessible by large ocean-going vessels. River ports are important for trade and commerce in many parts of the world, as they provide a means of transport for goods and commodities that cannot be easily transported over land.

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The large diurnal ranges of temperature in tropical deserts occur mainly because of the absence of cloud cover. In tropical deserts, the sky is usually clear, allowing sunlight to penetrate directly to the ground and heat it up during the day. At night, the clear sky also allows the heat to radiate back into space, leading to a rapid drop in temperature. This temperature difference between day and night can be significant, often reaching 20-30°C or more, which is what we refer to as a large diurnal range of temperature. The other options given are not the primary causes of large diurnal temperature ranges in tropical deserts. While scarcity of water and absence of highlands may contribute to temperature variations, they are not the main drivers of diurnal temperature changes. Prevalence of strong winds may cause variations in temperature, but it is not the primary cause of large diurnal ranges. Similarly, the absence of tradition is not a factor that affects temperature in tropical deserts.

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Winds in anticyclones differ from winds in cyclones mainly because they blow outwards. Anticyclones are high-pressure systems characterized by sinking air. The sinking air warms and dries, resulting in the formation of clear skies and dry weather conditions. Because of the high-pressure area, winds tend to flow outward and away from the center, resulting in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and an anticlockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. In contrast, cyclones are low-pressure systems characterized by rising air. The rising air cools and condenses, resulting in cloud formation and often leading to precipitation. As a result, winds tend to flow inwards and towards the center of the system in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

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The option that does not contribute to the high cost of building and maintaining roads in West Africa is the infertility of some lands. Infertility means the land is unable to produce crops or plants, but this does not necessarily affect the construction and maintenance of roads. On the other hand, the swampy coastal areas, numerous rivers to be crossed, mountainous nature of some regions, and torrential downpour are all factors that contribute to the high cost of building and maintaining roads in West Africa. For instance, building roads in swampy coastal areas or regions with numerous rivers would require expensive bridge constructions or land reclamation, which would add to the overall cost. Similarly, constructing roads in mountainous regions would require more resources and effort due to the difficult terrain, while torrential downpour can easily damage roads, leading to higher maintenance costs.

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The most predominant action in the first horizon of a soil profile is eluviation. Eluviation is the process by which water percolates through the soil and carries dissolved minerals and organic matter from the upper layers to the lower layers. This creates a zone of accumulation of nutrients, minerals, and organic matter in the lower layers, which is called the illuvial horizon. The first horizon of the soil profile is also known as the A horizon, which is the topsoil layer that contains the most organic matter and is the most fertile. Therefore, the process of eluviation plays a significant role in determining the fertility of the soil in the first horizon.

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The standard railway gauge is 143cm. The railway gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. The standard gauge of 143cm was adopted as an international standard because it provides a good balance between stability and flexibility for trains. A wider gauge provides greater stability but makes the track more expensive to build, while a narrower gauge is cheaper but less stable, which can cause derailments. The 143cm gauge is used in many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe, among others.

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An eclipse of the moon occurs when the earth comes between the moon and the sun. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the sun's light from directly reaching the moon. Instead, the Earth's shadow falls on the moon, causing it to appear reddish-brown or orange in color. This happens because some of the sunlight passing through the Earth's atmosphere is scattered and refracted, so that longer-wavelength light (like red and orange) is more likely to reach the moon.

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Hydro-electricity is a renewable resource. This is because it is generated from the energy of moving water, which is constantly replenished by rainfall and the water cycle. The water flows through a turbine to generate electricity, and the process can be repeated indefinitely as long as there is water flowing through the system. On the other hand, petroleum, coal, natural gas, and peat are all non-renewable resources. They are formed over millions of years from the remains of dead plants and animals, and once they are extracted and burned, they cannot be replaced. As a result, they will eventually run out and are not sustainable in the long term.

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The major effect of drought in Nigeria is population migration. Drought is a natural disaster that results from prolonged periods of low rainfall, which can cause crops to fail and water sources to dry up. In Nigeria, many people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, so when there is a drought, it can lead to food shortages and economic hardship. As a result, many people are forced to migrate to other areas in search of food and water. This can lead to overcrowding in cities and other areas, as well as social and economic problems. In addition, drought can also have other effects, such as increased temperatures and dust storms, which can exacerbate health problems and damage infrastructure.

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The greatest threat to the survival of ECOWAS is the inability to implement agreed policies. ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States, is a regional organization that aims to promote economic integration and cooperation among its member states. However, the success of this organization relies heavily on its ability to implement policies and agreements that benefit its member states. If policies are not implemented, then the goals of the organization cannot be achieved, and member states may become frustrated and disillusioned with the organization. This could lead to a lack of trust and cooperation among member states and ultimately threaten the survival of ECOWAS. The other options listed, such as different languages spoken and different monetary systems in use, may present challenges to achieving economic integration, but they are not the greatest threat to the survival of ECOWAS.

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The form of subsistence farming that is not commonly practiced in West Africa is plantation agriculture. Plantation agriculture is a form of commercial farming where large tracts of land are cultivated with a single crop, usually for export purposes. This is not a typical form of subsistence farming because it requires significant financial investment, expertise, and technology to set up and maintain. On the other hand, mixed farming, rotational bush fallowing, permanent cultivation, and pastoral nomadism are common forms of subsistence farming in West Africa. Mixed farming involves cultivating different crops and raising animals on the same piece of land, while rotational bush fallowing involves moving from one plot of land to another in order to allow the soil to regenerate. Permanent cultivation involves farming a plot of land continuously for a long period of time without letting it lie fallow, and pastoral nomadism involves moving herds of animals from place to place in search of grazing land.

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Most imports to Nigeria are consumer goods. This includes a wide range of products such as electronics, household appliances, clothing, and food items that are intended for personal or household use. Nigeria is a developing country and while it has a large agricultural and industrial sector, it still relies heavily on imports to meet its domestic demand for consumer goods. While Nigeria does import raw materials, primary products, pharmaceuticals, and perishables, these items do not make up the bulk of its imports. Raw materials and primary products are typically imported for use in Nigeria's manufacturing and industrial sectors. Pharmaceuticals are imported to meet the country's healthcare needs. Perishables, such as fruits and vegetables, are also imported to supplement domestic production, but they do not make up the majority of Nigeria's imports.

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Wheat is a cereal grain and is typically grown in regions with temperate climates. In Nigeria, wheat is grown mainly in the northern states where the weather is more suitable for its cultivation. Based on this information, the state that is less likely to grow wheat is Rivers, which is located in the southern part of Nigeria and has a tropical climate. Therefore, the answer to the question is Rivers.

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The correct arrangement representing an increasing size of settlements is: Hamlet, village, town, conurbation. A hamlet is a small settlement that usually has only a few houses, while a village is larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town. A town is larger than a village, and a conurbation is the largest settlement, comprising of several towns and cities that have grown and merged together. Therefore, as we move from a hamlet to a village, then to a town, and finally to a conurbation, the size and population of the settlement increase. Hence, the above-mentioned arrangement represents an increasing size of settlements.

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A high population density means that there is a large number of people in a particular area, usually measured as the number of persons per unit area. This means that the population in that area is dense, or crowded. Population density is an important factor in understanding the level of pressure that the population is placing on the available natural resources, the level of urbanization, the level of pollution, and the overall quality of life of the population. Therefore, option B - "persons per unit area" - is the correct answer.

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Venus is the planet that has no natural satellite. Unlike other planets such as Earth and Mars, which have one or two moons, and Jupiter and Saturn, which have dozens of moons, Venus does not have any known natural satellites. The reason for this is still not well understood, but one theory suggests that Venus may have had a moon in the past, but it collided with another object or was ejected from orbit due to gravitational interactions with the sun. However, this theory is still a subject of ongoing research and debate among scientists.

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Port Harcourt is a typical example of a "terminal town". A terminal town is a city or town that serves as a transportation hub or terminal for a region, connecting it to other areas through various modes of transportation such as roads, railways, and ports. In the case of Port Harcourt, it is a major port city in Nigeria, located on the Bonny River and the Gulf of Guinea. It serves as a hub for the transportation of goods and people in the region, connecting the surrounding areas to other parts of the country and the world through its port, airport, and road network. Port Harcourt is also home to several major oil companies and industries, which rely on its transportation infrastructure to export their products to other parts of the world. Therefore, as a terminal town, Port Harcourt plays a crucial role in the economic development of the region and the country as a whole.

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Out of the resources listed, only one resource is renewable, which is hydro-electricity. Petroleum, peat, coal, and natural gas are all non-renewable resources, which means that they cannot be replenished once they are used up. These resources take millions of years to form, and the rate at which they are consumed is much faster than the rate at which they are produced. On the other hand, hydro-electricity is generated using the kinetic energy of flowing water, which is a renewable source of energy as long as the water source remains available. The water that drives the turbines is replenished by natural processes such as precipitation and the water cycle, making it a sustainable source of energy.

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