New Curriculum Third Term Agricultural Science examination for SS 1

Class: SS 1
Term: Third Term
Subject: Agricultural Science
Time: 2 hours
Total Marks: 70

SECTION A: OBJECTIVES (40 Marks)
Instruction: Answer all 40 questions. Choose the most appropriate answer. Each question carries 1 mark.

1. Different farm implements suit different operations. Which explanation supports this choice?
   (a) all tools transfer force to the soil identically    (b) tool shapes and working edges suit different types of resistance and movement    (c) tool selection has no effect on worker effort    (d) the same blade can perform every task safely at equal speed
2. A group has ₦200,000 and must choose between storage and processing investments. Why prepare a budget?
   (a) compare expected benefits and costs before committing limited funds    (b) guarantee profit without any market risk    (c) avoid estimating operating expenses    (d) replace customer demand with speculation
3. A retailer rejects many bags because their contents were poorly graded. Which earlier stage most directly needs improvement?
   (a) Sorting and quality control before distribution    (b) Plant germination after sales    (c) Land surveying after harvest    (d) Consumer cooking after purchase
4. An entrepreneur is choosing between two markets for processed cassava. Which information is most useful?
   (a) only the colour of the stall roofs    (b) the number of greetings exchanged with buyers    (c) advertising claims without checking demand    (d) selling prices, transport expenses and likely losses
5. After several weeks outdoors, a spade is rusty and its edge is damaged. Which maintenance failure is most evident?
   (a) Use of appropriate protective oil    (b) Routine inspection of the working edge    (c) Dry, ventilated tool storage    (d) Poor cleaning and protection during storage
6. A cassava cluster creates processing jobs as well as farm work. Which effect of the value chain is demonstrated?
   (a) Employment at several stages beyond primary production    (b) Elimination of transport and market activities    (c) Reduction of every farm's crop acreage to zero    (d) Removal of the need for quality checks
7. After harvest, a cooperative washes, grades and packages groundnuts for retail. What activity is it undertaking?
   (a) land preparation only    (b) selective animal breeding    (c) soil erosion control    (d) value addition after harvest
8. A student uses a cutlass for deep soil digging and finds the work ineffective. Which improvement best matches the task to the tool?
   (a) Use a watering can for digging the entire plot    (b) Sharpen the handle and continue deep digging with the cutlass    (c) Use a hoe for cultivation and reserve the cutlass chiefly for cutting vegetation    (d) Use a rake for cutting woody bushes
9. How does sharpening a cutlass improve the work of clearing?
   (a) the blade no longer requires safe handling    (b) sharp tools cannot cause injuries    (c) a sound cutting edge reduces unnecessary effort when clearing    (d) the metal becomes permanently corrosion-proof
10. In the value-chain diagram, which participant chiefly converts the harvested crop into a packaged food product?
    (a) Input supplier    (b) Processor    (c) Crop producer    (d) Final consumer
11. An entrepreneur plans to convert surplus cassava into shelf-stable flour. Which value-chain opportunity is involved?
    (a) veterinary breeding    (b) seed germination only    (c) agricultural processing    (d) bush fallow management
12. ________ is a maintenance practice that helps protect exposed tool metal from corrosion.
    (a) Overloading    (b) Oiling    (c) Soaking in dirty water    (d) Hammering the handle
13. A cooperative receives the same price per kilogram but loses 15% of tomatoes in transit. Which intervention most directly addresses the loss?
    (a) Increase seed depth after harvesting    (b) Replace the farm record with an oral rumour    (c) Improve handling, packaging and transport conditions    (d) Reduce grading while exposing the crop to more heat
14. A tool shed reports frequent blade damage. Which record would best support a maintenance plan?
    (a) Dates of inspection, observed faults, repairs and replacement    (b) Only the number of workers entering the farm    (c) The weather forecast without tool inspection    (d) A list of crop names without maintenance details
15. Which measure best captures the value chain's wider contribution to the local economy?
    (a) Number of farm tools painted in the same colour    (b) Total farm land left uncultivated without reason    (c) Jobs, incomes and useful services across production, processing and trade    (d) Count of advertisements without evidence of sales
16. A processor buys produce for ₦60,000, spends ₦15,000 on processing and earns ₦95,000 in sales. Calculate the gross difference before other costs.
    (a) ₦35,000    (b) ₦75,000    (c) ₦110,000    (d) ₦20,000
17. The ________ is commonly used to loosen and cultivate the surface soil around crops.
    (a) sickle    (b) rake for gathering residues    (c) watering can    (d) hoe
18. Which service at the transportation stage contributes to value addition?
    (a) Moving produce safely to buyers while limiting losses    (b) Repeatedly delaying perishable loads in the sun    (c) Mixing damaged and sound bags without identification    (d) Removing labels that buyers use to check lots
19. A farmer is transferring loose soil into a planting pit. Which implement best suits the operation?
    (a) hand sprayer    (b) cutlass only    (c) spade or shovel    (d) watering rose
20. The ________ is the actor who first produces the agricultural raw material on the farm.
    (a) retailer    (b) producer    (c) wholesaler    (d) consumer
21. Inspection reveals a cracked handle on a hoe. Choose the safe response before reuse.
    (a) continue with the loose head until it falls off    (b) wet the broken joint without reinforcing it    (c) repair or replace the defective handle securely    (d) conceal the defect from other users
22. A hoe head is loose on its handle. What safety risk justifies withdrawing it from use?
    (a) it can detach unexpectedly and injure the operator or others    (b) it guarantees more accurate weeding    (c) it increases the strength of the wooden handle    (d) it protects the metal against rust
23. A trader buys packaged goods and supplies shops. Which stage of the chain is represented?
    (a) Initial seed selection    (b) Primary cultivation    (c) Distribution and marketing    (d) Field land preparation
24. Which activity is NOT a genuine agricultural value-chain opportunity?
    (a) Providing input supplies to growers    (b) Allowing usable harvests to spoil deliberately before sale    (c) Offering transport for farm produce    (d) Processing produce into marketable goods
25. All of these are appropriate matches of tool and task EXCEPT ____.
    (a) hoe — loosening topsoil    (b) cutlass — slashing grasses    (c) rake — gathering loose surface debris    (d) watering can — cutting thick stems
26. A buyer complains about one consignment. Which earlier packaging practice would make that lot traceable?
    (a) remove lot markings as soon as products leave the farm    (b) mix different lots while discarding their records    (c) alter delivery dates after quality complaints arise    (d) assign a batch identifier and keep related production records
27. An apprentice is handing over a sharp implement. Identify the safe method of transfer.
    (a) secure the blade and transfer it in a controlled safe manner    (b) throw the implement with its blade forward    (c) keep the edge exposed in a crowded path    (d) pass the tool while running to save time
28. A farmer used to earn ₦40 per unit; grading raises sales to ₦52 but costs ₦5 per unit. Calculate the additional net return.
    (a) ₦12    (b) ₦7    (c) ₦17    (d) ₦5
29. A processor reports inconsistent cassava quality. Which is the correct step to address the complaint?
    (a) assume every rejected batch must be acceptable    (b) agree on measurable quality standards and check products against them    (c) stop recording moisture and cleanliness    (d) send unlabelled produce without inspection
30. What explains how grading, processing and packaging can improve market returns?
    (a) all processed goods have no production cost    (b) packaging automatically doubles yields on every farm    (c) processing, grading or packaging can increase usefulness and market appeal    (d) raw produce always becomes more perishable after sorting
31. All of the following are plausible actors in a crop value chain EXCEPT ____.
    (a) a weather event with no business or production role    (b) a seed or fertiliser supplier    (c) a crop grower    (d) a produce transporter
32. A village loses tomatoes during peak harvest because it lacks cold storage and processing. Identify its principal value-chain constraint.
    (a) absence of any potential tomato consumers    (b) lack of a scientific name for tomatoes    (c) the impossibility of transporting vegetables at all    (d) post-harvest perishability and limited preservation capacity
33. A plot has tough grasses to clear before cultivation. Which simple farm tool is most suitable for the initial cutting?
    (a) Watering can    (b) Cutlass    (c) Wheelbarrow    (d) Garden fork used only for soil lifting
34. Which decision is NOT a sound principle of choosing farm tools?
    (a) Matching the tool to the operation    (b) Considering the tool's condition before work    (c) Selecting the heaviest tool regardless of work and user safety    (d) Choosing an implement that can be controlled safely
35. Which proposal best solves both storage loss and weak market access?
    (a) A coordinated plan for suitable storage, grading and buyer links    (b) More crop production without any plan for preservation    (c) Unplanned loading into unsuitable containers    (d) Closing communication between producers and distributors
36. A hoe is returned to a wet store immediately after use. What action would best reduce rusting?
    (a) Leave soil attached as a protective layer    (b) Clean, dry and lightly oil the metal parts before storage    (c) Keep the metal edge in standing water    (d) Store it with acidic waste on the blade
37. A grower and processor agree on moisture limits before deliveries. How does this help their transaction?
    (a) reduce quality disagreement and deterioration of stored produce    (b) ensure the farmer never needs to harvest again    (c) stop the need for any packaging under all conditions    (d) make all products identical in flavour regardless of treatment
38. The ________ describes the connected activities that move a farm product from inputs and production to final buyers.
    (a) soil profile    (b) crop germination rate    (c) livestock digestive system    (d) agricultural value chain
39. Which consequence is NOT likely to result from neglecting tool maintenance?
    (a) Lower work efficiency as edges become blunt    (b) Longer service life with fewer safety risks    (c) Greater risk from loose or damaged handles    (d) Corrosion of poorly protected metal surfaces
40. What is the main reason farmers and processors benefit from consistent product standards?
    (a) standards remove the need for any storage facility    (b) all buyers purchase every product regardless of condition    (c) prices become legally identical in every market    (d) more consistent quality can reduce rejection and support access to buyers

SECTION B: THEORY (30 Marks)
Instruction: Answer Question 1 and any other TWO questions. Each question carries 10 marks. Show your reasoning and use labelled diagrams where appropriate.

Question 1 (10 marks)
(a) Match two common farm tools to suitable operations and justify each match. (4 marks)
(b) After use, a hoe is wet and its handle is loose. Describe three steps needed before the tool is stored or reused, with safety reasons. (6 marks)

Question 2 (10 marks)
(a) Define agricultural value addition using a harvested crop example. (4 marks)
(b) A group spends ₦60,000 on produce and ₦15,000 on processing, then earns ₦95,000 in sales. Calculate the gross difference before other costs and explain two limitations of treating that difference as final profit. (6 marks)

Question 3 (10 marks)
(a) Identify two value-chain actors and state the principal service each supplies. (4 marks)
(b) A cooperative experiences rejection of poorly graded groundnut bags. Explain three connected improvements from handling through marketing that could reduce rejection. (6 marks)

Question 4 (10 marks)
(a) A trader's original farmgate price is ₦40 per unit; sorting raises the price to ₦52 but costs ₦5 per unit. Calculate the net increase per unit. (4 marks)
(b) Identify three operational risks that could still affect the value chain, and recommend a matching remedy for each. (6 marks)

Objective Marking Scheme
Question 1 – ✅ (b) tool shapes and working edges suit different types of resistance and movement
Question 2 – ✅ (a) compare expected benefits and costs before committing limited funds
Question 3 – ✅ (a) Sorting and quality control before distribution
Question 4 – ✅ (d) selling prices, transport expenses and likely losses
Question 5 – ✅ (d) Poor cleaning and protection during storage
Question 6 – ✅ (a) Employment at several stages beyond primary production
Question 7 – ✅ (d) value addition after harvest
Question 8 – ✅ (c) Use a hoe for cultivation and reserve the cutlass chiefly for cutting vegetation
Question 9 – ✅ (c) a sound cutting edge reduces unnecessary effort when clearing
Question 10 – ✅ (b) Processor
Question 11 – ✅ (c) agricultural processing
Question 12 – ✅ (b) Oiling
Question 13 – ✅ (c) Improve handling, packaging and transport conditions
Question 14 – ✅ (a) Dates of inspection, observed faults, repairs and replacement
Question 15 – ✅ (c) Jobs, incomes and useful services across production, processing and trade
Question 16 – ✅ (d) ₦20,000
Question 17 – ✅ (d) hoe
Question 18 – ✅ (a) Moving produce safely to buyers while limiting losses
Question 19 – ✅ (c) spade or shovel
Question 20 – ✅ (b) producer
Question 21 – ✅ (c) repair or replace the defective handle securely
Question 22 – ✅ (a) it can detach unexpectedly and injure the operator or others
Question 23 – ✅ (c) Distribution and marketing
Question 24 – ✅ (b) Allowing usable harvests to spoil deliberately before sale
Question 25 – ✅ (d) watering can — cutting thick stems
Question 26 – ✅ (d) assign a batch identifier and keep related production records
Question 27 – ✅ (a) secure the blade and transfer it in a controlled safe manner
Question 28 – ✅ (b) ₦7
Question 29 – ✅ (b) agree on measurable quality standards and check products against them
Question 30 – ✅ (c) processing, grading or packaging can increase usefulness and market appeal
Question 31 – ✅ (a) a weather event with no business or production role
Question 32 – ✅ (d) post-harvest perishability and limited preservation capacity
Question 33 – ✅ (b) Cutlass
Question 34 – ✅ (c) Selecting the heaviest tool regardless of work and user safety
Question 35 – ✅ (a) A coordinated plan for suitable storage, grading and buyer links
Question 36 – ✅ (b) Clean, dry and lightly oil the metal parts before storage
Question 37 – ✅ (a) reduce quality disagreement and deterioration of stored produce
Question 38 – ✅ (d) agricultural value chain
Question 39 – ✅ (b) Longer service life with fewer safety risks
Question 40 – ✅ (d) more consistent quality can reduce rejection and support access to buyers

Theory Marking Scheme

Question 1:
(a) Hoe for soil loosening/weed cultivation with explanation (2); cutlass for clearing vegetation with explanation (2). (4 marks)
(b) Clean and dry metal (2); oil/protect against rust (2); repair or replace loose handle before reuse (2). (6 marks)

Question 2:
(a) Processing, grading, preserving or packaging produces a more useful/marketable product (2); fitting crop example e.g. cassava to flour or graded packaged groundnuts (2). (4 marks)
(b) ₦95,000 − (₦60,000 + ₦15,000) = ₦20,000 (2); uncounted transport, storage, wages, packaging or spoilage with explanation (2 each). (6 marks)

Question 3:
(a) Farmer produces raw crop (2); processor converts it into usable/marketable product OR transporter moves goods to market (2). (4 marks)
(b) Quality grading/drying before packaging (2); batch labels/records and suitable storage (2); buyer specification, reliable transport or market communication (2). (6 marks)

Question 4:
(a) ₦52 − ₦40 = ₦12 added gross revenue (2); minus ₦5 processing = ₦7 extra net per unit (2). (4 marks)
(b) Any three paired and explained, 2 marks each: spoilage→storage/processing; rejected quality→grading/standards; transport delays→reliable logistics; poor demand→market research; weak finance→budget/cooperative credit. (6 marks)
Accept scientifically correct equivalents. Award method marks for valid reasoning; do not award a mark twice for the same point.