New Curriculum Second Term Crop Production and Horticulture examination for SS 1

Class: SS 1
Term: Second Term
Subject: Crop Production and Horticulture
Time: 2 hours
Total Marks: 70

SECTION A: OBJECTIVES (40 Marks)
Instruction: Answer all 40 questions. Each question carries 1 mark. Select the best option (a), (b), (c) or (d).

1. The main reason accurate disease diagnosis should precede chemical treatment is ________. (a) all diseases respond identically to pesticides    (b) chemical use removes the need to inspect plants    (c) different causes require different controls and inappropriate chemicals waste resources    (d) disease symptoms cannot change with weather
2. Two neighbouring vegetable beds show yellow leaves. One is waterlogged; the other has spreading spots. Why might their causes differ? (a) Non-infectious stress and infectious disease can produce overlapping symptoms    (b) Waterlogging cannot alter plant health    (c) Every yellow leaf confirms the same fungus    (d) Leaf colour alone always identifies the pathogen
3. Suppose that a grower uses the same disease-susceptible crop repeatedly in a contaminated field. Which prevention principle is neglected? (a) Increasing harvest sacks without sanitation    (b) Appropriate crop rotation and management of disease carryover    (c) Painting field signs each season    (d) Changing the crop's market label
4. In this case, a grower selects a temporary nursery near a field to be planted soon. Which advantage is especially relevant? (a) Permanent exemption from disease control    (b) Seedlings never need hardening before transfer    (c) Reduced movement distance for seedlings and easier local supervision    (d) No need for protection against weather
5. Consider the following situation: A leaking chemical container is discovered in storage. Which immediate decision is most appropriate? (a) Leave the leak near feed and grain    (b) Transfer contents into an unlabelled drinks bottle    (c) Use bare hands to wipe the spilled concentrate    (d) Restrict access and follow the product's safe spill-response guidance
6. Which distinction about agrochemicals is correct? (a) Product names alone guarantee universal safety    (b) An herbicide and fertiliser necessarily act identically    (c) Products can have different purposes such as pest, weed or disease management and fertilisation    (d) All products are designed to kill insects
7. Suppose that a rodent population damages stored maize. Which preventive combination is most appropriate? (a) Leave grain spilled around the building    (b) Stack bags against wet walls to attract pests    (c) Keep doors open throughout the night    (d) Improve store hygiene, exclude entry points and monitor damage
8. Scenario: A supplier transfers concentrate into an unmarked container for sale. What critical safety information may be lost? (a) Advice from another user without hazard details    (b) Colour and size of the unmarked bottle    (c) Identity, hazard, dose and handling guidance    (d) Claimed strength without a verified formulation
9. In this case, a grower starts delicate seedlings in a nursery before transplanting. Which management benefit is most likely? (a) No need for watering or shade    (b) Automatic growth of every seedling into a mature plant    (c) Better early monitoring, protection and efficient use of small seeds    (d) Guaranteed elimination of transplant shock
10. In this case, a maize field has leaves with chewing damage and visible caterpillars. Which pest category is most relevant? (a) Field insect pest    (b) Root nutrient deficiency alone    (c) Stored grain weevil only    (d) A post-harvest warehouse rat only
11. Suppose that a farmer keeps infected cuttings to propagate the next planting. What disease risk is created? (a) Cuttings always become disease-free after planting    (b) Pathogens cannot persist in plant tissue    (c) Infected planting material can carry the problem into new plots    (d) Propagation removes all plant diseases
12. Which record is most useful when comparing seed lots before planting? (a) Variety, source, storage history and germination test results    (b) Seller reputation without storage history    (c) Visual similarity of lots without viability evidence    (d) Seed price and package size without germination data
13. A farmer finds caterpillars and weeds in a crop and plans a chemical treatment. What is the most responsible first step? (a) Spray every available chemical mixture together    (b) Identify the target problem and assess whether the selected product is appropriate and permitted    (c) Choose the strongest smell as proof of effectiveness    (d) Apply product without reading its directions
14. Two lots of seed have germination percentages of 90% and 60% under similar test conditions. Which conclusion is best supported? (a) The second lot necessarily contains different species    (b) The results prove neither lot needs safe storage    (c) The first lot will always yield 50% more grain    (d) The first lot has higher tested germination, though field establishment also depends on conditions
15. Which monitoring information best helps determine whether a pest control response is warranted? (a) Pest count without assessing damage level    (b) Pest identity, crop stage, severity and trend of damage    (c) Estimated crop loss without identifying the pest    (d) Pest observations without examining the crop stage
16. In this case, a seed test in which 84 of 100 seeds produce normal seedlings has a ________ germination rate. (a) 84%    (b) 16%    (c) 119%    (d) 184%
17. Which is the most useful distinguishing evidence of disease rather than simple mechanical injury? (a) A snapped branch caused by wind    (b) A single clean cut after pruning    (c) A footprint beside the field    (d) Progressive symptoms, patterns of spread and diagnostic signs
18. Which disadvantage can accompany nursery transplanting if poorly managed? (a) Seedlings becoming independent of weather    (b) Elimination of all field preparation    (c) Guaranteed stronger roots without care    (d) Root disturbance and transplant shock
19. For a crop damaged by fungal disease, applying an insecticide alone may fail because ________. (a) An insecticide targets insects, not necessarily the disease-causing fungus    (b) A chemical label is unrelated to its target    (c) All fungal infections are caused by insects    (d) Insecticides always improve soil oxygen
20. A plant shows pale mottling and distorted leaves. Which conclusion is scientifically safest from symptoms alone? (a) The condition proves one specific virus without testing    (b) It must be caused by insufficient fertiliser    (c) The symptoms cannot have more than one explanation    (d) A disease is possible, but signs and causal evidence are needed before diagnosis
21. Two bags look alike: one contains maize intended for eating, the other certified maize intended for sowing. Which distinction matters for crop establishment? (a) Planting seed is selected for identity and sowing quality; grain is primarily a harvested product    (b) Seed and grain are always chemically identical in use    (c) All marketed grain has certified germination    (d) Only grain can be alive
22. In this case, a farmer plans to store agrochemicals in a shared household kitchen. Which alternative is best? (a) Keep them securely in a suitable labelled store away from food and children    (b) Remove labels to prevent worry    (c) Store next to cooking ingredients for convenience    (d) Put them beside the family drinking-water tank
23. ________ is the pest classification suggested by boreholes, grain powder and beetles in stored maize. (a) A drought affecting standing plants    (b) Stored-product insect infestation    (c) A failure of seed spacing alone    (d) Field-bird attack on ripening cobs
24. A seed test was conducted with insufficient moisture so many viable seeds did not germinate. What is the validity issue? (a) All ungerminated seeds are necessarily dead    (b) Low moisture always improves seed test accuracy    (c) Viability is completely independent of conditions    (d) Test conditions may underestimate actual viability or germination capacity
25. Suppose that a grower confuses a pollinating insect with a crop-damaging insect. Why is correct identification important? (a) Pollinators always feed on stored grain    (b) Identification has no effect on crop yield    (c) Control should minimise harm to beneficial organisms while targeting real threats    (d) Every insect must be eliminated from farms
26. Which action is NOT a safe principle of agrochemical use? (a) Using suitable protective equipment    (b) Respecting required precautions and storage rules    (c) Following approved label directions    (d) Mixing products without checking compatibility or directions
27. An intact viable seed fails to germinate under otherwise favourable conditions. What explanation may apply? (a) Proof that the seed contains no living embryo    (b) Dormancy preventing immediate germination    (c) Guaranteed insect damage    (d) Proof that soil moisture is always excessive
28. A container nursery shows roots circling tightly at the base of many pots. Which response is appropriate? (a) Cut every root off immediately and leave the plant unwatered    (b) Reduce all drainage holes    (c) Keep all plants indefinitely in the same small pots    (d) Review container size and transplant timing before roots become severely restricted
29. All of these may reduce pest damage EXCEPT ________. (a) regular crop inspection    (b) keeping infested grain in open bags beside clean stock    (c) use of resistant varieties where appropriate    (d) sanitation and removal of pest harbourage
30. Scenario: A nursery worker waters seed trays until they remain permanently saturated. What is the main risk? (a) Guaranteed faster growth regardless of species    (b) Reduced aeration and increased disease risk in the growing medium    (c) Automatic improvement in seed quality    (d) Elimination of damping-off
31. Consider the following situation: A crop disease spreads most rapidly under high humidity. What planning implication follows? (a) Ventilation and moisture management may reduce favourable disease conditions    (b) Store diseased leaves among healthy seedlings    (c) Water leaves repeatedly late at night regardless of guidance    (d) Increase crowding to keep leaves wet
32. Which routine most improves seedling readiness for transplanting? (a) Keeping plants in deep shade until the instant of field planting    (b) Transplanting during severe midday heat without preparation    (c) Withholding all water for weeks    (d) Gradual hardening, inspection and appropriate watering before movement
33. A farm worker transports pesticide beside uncovered food in the same basket. What is the primary concern? (a) Automatic neutralisation of the pesticide    (b) Risk of contaminating food or exposing people to chemicals    (c) Lower travel cost guarantees safe handling    (d) Improved freshness of transported food
34. Scenario: A grower tests 50 seeds; 38 germinate normally. What result should be reported? (a) 76% normal germination    (b) 131% normal germination    (c) 88% normal germination    (d) 38% normal germination
35. Consider the following situation: A farmer establishes a nursery on a flood-prone site beside a polluted drainage channel. Which issue should be corrected first? (a) Amount of shade without assessing water safety    (b) Site drainage and water-source safety    (c) Expected seedling sales without assessing flood risk    (d) Distance to the field without assessing drainage
36. Scenario: A nursery suffers recurrent aphid attacks. Which integrated prevention measure is reasonable? (a) Use the same chemical regardless of resistance or label    (b) Ignore infested cuttings entering the nursery    (c) Inspect plants, control infested material and encourage suitable management before targeted treatment    (d) Overwater continuously to remove all pests
37. A farmer stores seed in damp, poorly ventilated conditions. What is a likely risk? (a) Immediate improvement in storage life    (b) Loss of viability and deterioration of seed quality    (c) Guaranteed protection against mould    (d) Permanent increase in germination percentage
38. Which practice supports disease control without relying solely on fungicides? (a) Move infected leaves to all nursery trays    (b) Irrigate continuously to keep foliage saturated    (c) Use healthy planting material, sanitation and suitable growing conditions    (d) Save visibly diseased seed without inspection
39. Consider the following situation: A farmer sees a few insects but no meaningful crop damage. Why might immediate blanket spraying be a poor decision? (a) Monitoring and economic impact should guide proportionate control    (b) Spraying every insect is always cheaper than observation    (c) Chemical use has no costs or risks    (d) There can never be beneficial insects
40. Consider the following situation: A nursery has crowded seedlings with weak stems. Which adjustment may improve plant quality? (a) Avoid removing any diseased seedlings    (b) Keep seedlings permanently in darkness    (c) Correct spacing, light and appropriate care    (d) Increase overcrowding further

SECTION B: THEORY (30 Marks)
Instruction: Answer Question 1 and any other TWO questions. Each question carries 10 marks. Show workings where applicable.
Question 1 (10 marks). A grower sees feeding damage and considers pesticide use. (a) Explain FIVE stages of responsible diagnosis and integrated pest control. (5 marks) (b) Describe FIVE precautions for transporting, storing and using agrochemicals. (5 marks)

Question 2 (10 marks). A nursery has spreading leaf spots and repeated wilting after watering. (a) Explain FIVE ways to distinguish disease from environmental stress. (5 marks) (b) Propose FIVE preventive measures appropriate to plant disease management. (5 marks)

Question 3 (10 marks). A school tests 100 seeds; 84 produce normal seedlings. Refer to Figure 1 where relevant. (a) Calculate germination percentage and explain FOUR reasons to perform a seed test. (5 marks) (b) Distinguish seed dormancy from non-viability and describe THREE seed-management precautions. (5 marks)

Question 4 (10 marks). A farm is setting up a vegetable-seedling nursery. (a) Explain FIVE considerations in nursery location and construction. (5 marks) (b) Explain FIVE routine management steps before transplanting seedlings. (5 marks)

Objective Marking Scheme
Question 1 – ✅ (c) different causes require different controls and inappropriate chemicals waste resources
Question 2 – ✅ (a) Non-infectious stress and infectious disease can produce overlapping symptoms
Question 3 – ✅ (b) Appropriate crop rotation and management of disease carryover
Question 4 – ✅ (c) Reduced movement distance for seedlings and easier local supervision
Question 5 – ✅ (d) Restrict access and follow the product's safe spill-response guidance
Question 6 – ✅ (c) Products can have different purposes such as pest, weed or disease management and fertilisation
Question 7 – ✅ (d) Improve store hygiene, exclude entry points and monitor damage
Question 8 – ✅ (c) Identity, hazard, dose and handling guidance
Question 9 – ✅ (c) Better early monitoring, protection and efficient use of small seeds
Question 10 – ✅ (a) Field insect pest
Question 11 – ✅ (c) Infected planting material can carry the problem into new plots
Question 12 – ✅ (a) Variety, source, storage history and germination test results
Question 13 – ✅ (b) Identify the target problem and assess whether the selected product is appropriate and permitted
Question 14 – ✅ (d) The first lot has higher tested germination, though field establishment also depends on conditions
Question 15 – ✅ (b) Pest identity, crop stage, severity and trend of damage
Question 16 – ✅ (a) 84%
Question 17 – ✅ (d) Progressive symptoms, patterns of spread and diagnostic signs
Question 18 – ✅ (d) Root disturbance and transplant shock
Question 19 – ✅ (a) An insecticide targets insects, not necessarily the disease-causing fungus
Question 20 – ✅ (d) A disease is possible, but signs and causal evidence are needed before diagnosis
Question 21 – ✅ (a) Planting seed is selected for identity and sowing quality; grain is primarily a harvested product
Question 22 – ✅ (a) Keep them securely in a suitable labelled store away from food and children
Question 23 – ✅ (b) Stored-product insect infestation
Question 24 – ✅ (d) Test conditions may underestimate actual viability or germination capacity
Question 25 – ✅ (c) Control should minimise harm to beneficial organisms while targeting real threats
Question 26 – ✅ (d) Mixing products without checking compatibility or directions
Question 27 – ✅ (b) Dormancy preventing immediate germination
Question 28 – ✅ (d) Review container size and transplant timing before roots become severely restricted
Question 29 – ✅ (b) keeping infested grain in open bags beside clean stock
Question 30 – ✅ (b) Reduced aeration and increased disease risk in the growing medium
Question 31 – ✅ (a) Ventilation and moisture management may reduce favourable disease conditions
Question 32 – ✅ (d) Gradual hardening, inspection and appropriate watering before movement
Question 33 – ✅ (b) Risk of contaminating food or exposing people to chemicals
Question 34 – ✅ (a) 76% normal germination
Question 35 – ✅ (b) Site drainage and water-source safety
Question 36 – ✅ (c) Inspect plants, control infested material and encourage suitable management before targeted treatment
Question 37 – ✅ (b) Loss of viability and deterioration of seed quality
Question 38 – ✅ (c) Use healthy planting material, sanitation and suitable growing conditions
Question 39 – ✅ (a) Monitoring and economic impact should guide proportionate control
Question 40 – ✅ (c) Correct spacing, light and appropriate care

Theory Marking Scheme
Question 1 (10 marks)
(a) identify pest, monitor severity, consider beneficial species, use sanitation, resistant crops, targeted suitable treatment five 1.
(b) labels, separate from food, PPE, secure ventilation, avoid spills, legal label use, safe disposal five 1

Question 2 (10 marks)
(a) symptom pattern, progression, crop history, waterlogging, diagnostic signs, expert check, weather relation any five 1.
(b) healthy stock, sanitation, drainage, spacing, rotation, correct watering, quarantine any five 1

Question 3 (10 marks)
(a) 84% 1; planting rate, compare lots, avoid failure, quality assurance, storage review any four 1.
(b) viable seed prevented from germination under suitable conditions 1; nonviable dead/incompetent embryo 1; dry suitable storage, label, pest protection, test conditions, healthy source any three 1

Question 4 (10 marks)
(a) clean water, drainage, suitable light/shade, access, soil/media, security, nursery type five 1.
(b) watering, spacing, disease scouting, hygiene, hardening, root inspection, transplant timing five 1