MOCK EXAM

1

ANSWER SCHEME

RIO CLARO EAST SECONDARY SCHOOL

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE (Single Award)

MOCK CXC EXAMS 2012FORM 5 GROUPS 2 & 3

TEACHERS: Mr. Ramdatt, Mrs. Maharaj, Mrs. Bhika-Shah

PAPER 02 - GENERAL PROFICIENCYTIME: 2 hrs

NAME: ____________________________FORM 5 GROUP _________

READ THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY

1. There are nine questions in this test, six in Section I and three in Section II. Answer ALL questions

2. Each Question in Section I carries 4 marks. Each question in Section II carries 12 marks

3. For each question in Section I, write your answer in the space provided. For the questions in Section II, write your answer on your examination pads, where applicable.

4. Begin each question in Section II on a new page

5. Use black or blue ink pens ONLY. Pencils should be used for drawing and labelling.

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

SECTION I

Answer ALL questions in this section

Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet

1 Mrs. James gets 10 hectares of arable land for agriculture.

(a) State TWO factors of production that she must consider

Land, labour, capital

(2 marks)

(b)Mrs. James completes a loan application form but is unsuccessful in getting the loan. Suggest TWO criteria required to obtain a loan.

Project proposal, records, collateral

(2 marks)

Total 4 marks

2Many governmental organizations have been promoting food security through home gardening. Tenese is interested in home gardening, but the soil around her home is rocky and unsuitable for growing crops.

(a) Recommend TWO methods which Tenese can use to grow vegetables at her home.Pot and trough culture, grow box cultivation

(2 marks)

(b) State ONE advantage for EACH method recommended in (a) above

Can be used in areas with poor soil

Can be placed anywhere around the house

(2 marks)

Total 4 marks

3Sol erosion occurs as a result of the actions of wind and water

(a)Explain how water causes soil erosion

Action of raindrops beating on rocks/ freeze and thaw of water / movement of water in rivers and by attrition (grinding down of rocks by the action of moving water)

(2 marks)

(b) Mulch, when used as a soil erosion control method, harbours pests. Conservation techniques such as strip cropping, however, do not present such problems.

Suggest TWO OTHER conservation techniques that can be used to reduce soil erosion.

Contour drains, strip cropping, terracing

(2 marks)

Total 4 marks

4.An agronomist conducts an experiment to study the effect of soil compaction on tuber production of yam.

(a)Name the part of the plant that is used for the propagating yam.

tuber

(1 mark)

(b) The plot of yam becomes heavily infested with weeds. State ONE effect this is likely to have on the production of yam.

Reduction in yield

(1 mark)

(c) Table 1 shows the results of the experiment conducted by the agronomist.

TABLE 1:

THE EFFECT OF SOIL COMPACTION ON TUBER YIELD IN YAM

Degree of Soil Compaction

Tuber Yield (t/ha)

Not compacted

20

Slightly compacted

15

Moderately compacted

12

Highly compacted

7

Describe the relationship between soil compaction and tuber yield, shown in Table 1.

The more compacted the soil, the lower the yield, less compacted, the higher the yield

(1 marks)

(d) A farmer attempts to till a compacted soil with a garden fork but he is unsuccessful. Recommend ONE tillage implement that can be used to break up the compacted layer.

Chisel plough

(1 mark)

Total 4 marks

5Figure 1 shows the digestive tract of two different species of farm animals

(a)State the names of the parts of the digestive tract labeled X and Y respectively in Figure 1.

XGizzard(1 mark)

YRumen(1mark)

(b) A farmer feeds to Species B a ration which consists mainly of grass. Give one reason why species B will be better able to utilize this feed.

The digestive system of the cow is designed to digest cellulose because of the bacteria in the rumen that aid in digestion of cellulose

(2 marks)

Total 4 marks

6 In the Caribbean region broilers are reared in poultry pens where heat build up can be substantial during the midday hours. Figure 3 represents a typical poultry pen. Study the diagram and answer the questions which follow

(a) (i)Suggest ONE way of improving the design of the pen to reduce the build-up of heat.

Raise the roof / use ventilators/ fans

(1 mark)

(ii)Explain how the improved design in (a)(i) above helps to reduce heat build-up.

Improved circulation of air helping to remove heat inside the pen

(1 mark)

(b) It is generally accepted that housing for livestock should provide a secure environment for the animals. Identify TWO features in the typical poultry pen in Figure 3, which provide security for broilers.

Low solid wall

Door

Footbath

(2 marks)

Total 4 marks

SECTION II

Answer ALL questions in this section

Answer each question on the writing paper provided

Begin each question on a new page

7(a)Table 2 is an example of an incomplete breeding record of a doe. Three of the headings are missing.

TABLE 2: BREEDING RECORD OF A DOE

Date mated

Buck used

Date doe kindled

Number of Offspring Born Alive

Number of Offspring Died

Date weaned

Number Weaned

Complete the record by inserting the following headings in the correct order in Table 2.

· Date doe kindled

· Date mated

· Date weaned

(3 marks)

(b) Farmer Raj grows corn and rears goats. Table 3 shows the financial accounts for his mixed farm enterprise.

TABLE 3: FINANCIAL ACCOUNT

Item

Money ($)

Goats sold

Replacement does

Housing and Equipment

Farm operator salary

Cost of corn seeds

Subsidy on land preparation

Feed costs

Sale of corn

Casual labour

250 000

55 000

100 000

20 000

5 000

10 000

50 000

50 000

10 000

(i) Using the information in Table 3, list the variable costs and the fixed costs.

Variable Costs$

Replacement does

Cost of corn seeds

Casual labour

Feed costs

Fixed Costs$

Housing and Equipment

Farm operator salary

(3marks)

(ii) Calculate the gross income and the net income. Show all your working

Gross income

Goats sold250 000

+

Sale of corn 50000

=300 000

Net income

Net income = Income - Total variable costs

Replacement does55000

Cost of corn seeds 5000

Casual labour 10000

Feed costs50000

=120 000

300000 – 120000 = 180000

(4 marks)

(iii) State whether or not the farmer’s business is successful. Explain your answer.

Yes it was because if all costs are subtracted from the total income there is still a surplus of $60 000

(2 marks)

Total 12 marks

8.(a)Weeds are described as unwanted plants and if they are not controlled they have adverse effects on crop production.

List THREE ways by which weeds can affect the growth and yields of crops.

They reduce yield

They compete with crops for nutrients, light and water

They harbor pests

(3 marks)

(b) Farmer Amit cultivates maize (corn) on a two hectare plot of land. He controls weed growth with a locally available weedicide.

(i) Categorize weedicide use as either manual, mechanical, chemical or cultural control.

chemical

(ii) After continued use of the weedicide, Farmer Amit observed that the broad leaf weeds had disappeared but other weeds persisted. Give TWO likely reasons for this observation.

He used a selective weedicide

The dosage was wrong

Some of the weeds built up a resistance to the weedicide

(iii) Describe TWO cultural practices Farmer Amit can use on his farm to control weed growth.

Crop rotation

Intercropping

Flooding

(iv) Identify TWO methods of mechanical weed control.

Hand pulling

Brush cutting

(9 marks)

Total 12 marks

9(a) (i)State TWO effects that the overuse of fertilizers may have on the environment.

Polution of the environment, increase in acidity of the soil, algal bloom in waterways.

(2 marks)

(ii)State ONE benefit of mulching.

Conservation of soil water / increase in organic content

(1 marks)

(b) A farmer cultivates a leafy vegetable crop and a root crop on flat land. Compare the cultivating practices (similarities and differences) of these TWO crops under the following headings:

(i) Land Preparation

Root crops require deeper tillage, the soil has to be banked, deep drains are required as compared to leafy vegetables

(ii) Fertiliser application

Leafy vegetables can be fertilized using foliar applications, root crops require more phosphatic fertilizers, root crops can be fertilized using side dressings, leafy crops require application in drip circle applications

(iii) Harvesting and post- harvest handling

Leafy vegetables are cut at the base of the stem and removed, root crops are removed using a fork or uprooted, root crops are washed /excess dirt removed and dried in the sun, leafy vegetables are washed and packed in crates and chilled or taken to market, a fork is used to harvest root crops, a knife for leafy vegetables.

(9 marks)

Total 12 marks

END OF TEST