Total marks: 60 · Duration: 75 minutes
Instructions to candidates
- Answer ALL questions in this section.
- Each question is worth 3 marks.
- Write your answers on the Multiple Choice Answer Sheet provided.
- Shade the circle corresponding to the letter of your chosen answer completely.
- If you need to change an answer, erase your first choice completely before shading your new choice.
- Marks will NOT be deducted for wrong answers.
- You may use a silent, non-programmable calculator.
Paper
Section A — Multiple Choice (60 marks)
1. Which of the following is the PRIMARY function of the soil organism Rhizobium?
A) Decomposition of organic matter
B) Nitrogen fixation
C) Disease suppression
D) Phosphorus solubilization
2. A farmer in St. Lucia notices that his tomato plants have yellow leaves with green veins. Which nutrient deficiency is MOST likely responsible for this symptom?
A) Phosphorus
B) Potassium
C) Nitrogen
D) Iron
3. The gestation period of a sow is approximately:
A) 114 days
B) 150 days
C) 63 days
D) 283 days
4. After a banana bunch is harvested, the farmer allows a sucker from the base of the same plant to grow on and produce the next crop. This practice is called:
A) Ratoon cropping
B) Layering
C) Budding
D) Grafting
5. An agricultural extension officer in Guyana is advising farmers on pest management. Which of the following is an example of biological control?
A) Rotating crops annually
B) Spraying malathion on cabbage
C) Removing infected plants from the field
D) Introducing parasitic wasps to control aphids
6. The process by which water is lost from plant leaves through stomata is called:
A) Translocation
B) Respiration
C) Photosynthesis
D) Transpiration
7. Which of the following breeds of cattle is classified as a beef breed?
A) Jersey
B) Guernsey
C) Holstein
D) Hereford
8. A soil sample has a pH of 4.5. Which amendment would be MOST appropriate to raise the pH?
A) Potassium chloride
B) Urea
C) Agricultural lime
D) Ammonium sulphate
9. The practice of keeping bees for honey production is known as:
A) Apiculture
B) Silviculture
C) Aquaculture
D) Sericulture
10. Which of the following is a leguminous cover crop commonly used in the Caribbean to improve soil fertility?
A) Guinea grass
B) Elephant grass
C) Pangola grass
D) Kudzu
11. In plant reproduction, the male gamete is produced in the:
A) Stigma
B) Style
C) Anther
D) Ovary
12. A poultry farmer records that his layers are producing eggs with thin, brittle shells. Which mineral supplement should be increased in their diet?
A) Sodium
B) Calcium
C) Iron
D) Magnesium
13. The type of soil erosion characterized by the removal of soil in thin layers over a large area is called:
A) Rill erosion
B) Sheet erosion
C) Stream bank erosion
D) Gully erosion
14. Which hormone is responsible for the ripening of fruits?
A) Ethylene
B) Gibberellin
C) Cytokinin
D) Auxin
15. A farmer in Barbados wants to control weeds in his sugar cane field without using herbicides. Which cultural practice would be MOST effective?
A) Applying nitrogen fertilizer
B) Deep ploughing only
C) Mulching with bagasse
D) Increasing plant spacing
16. The marketing function that involves sorting produce according to size, quality and maturity is called:
A) Packaging
B) Standardization
C) Grading
D) Processing
17. Which disease of poultry is caused by a virus and is characterized by respiratory distress and nervous symptoms?
A) Coccidiosis
B) Newcastle disease
C) Fowl typhoid
D) Fowl pox
18. In a livestock breeding programme, what is the term used for mating animals that are more closely related than the average of the population?
A) Inbreeding
B) Out-breeding
C) Cross-breeding
D) Upgrading
19. Which of the following is a macronutrient required by plants in relatively large quantities?
A) Copper
B) Zinc
C) Sulphur
D) Boron
20. The Agricultural Development Bank in Jamaica offers loans to farmers. This is an example of which type of farm input?
A) Labour
B) Capital
C) Management
D) Land