WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL (WAEC) GCE STYLE

2026 AGRICULTURE MOCK EXAMINATION

Objective and Essay (Theory) Questions and Answers

Independently Produced Practice Paper for Revision Purposes

This is a 100% original mock examination prepared strictly with reference to the current WAEC Agriculture syllabus for practice purposes. It is not a WAEC past question paper, it does not reproduce any official WAEC document, and it does not claim to predict or represent the actual WAEC examination in any way.

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General Instructions

1. This paper consists of two sections: Section A (Objective) and Section B (Essay).

2. Section A contains 60 objective questions. Answer ALL questions. Time: 40 minutes.

3. Section B contains 6 essay questions. Answer any FOUR (4) questions. Time: 1 hour 40 minutes.

4. Total marks obtainable: 100 (60 marks for Section A and 40 marks for Section B).

5. Write clearly and number your answers correctly.

SECTION A: OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (60 MARKS)

Answer ALL questions. Each question carries 1 mark. Choose the correct option A, B, C or D.

1. Agriculture can best be defined as

A. only the rearing of animals

B. the science and practice of crop and livestock production, including processing and marketing

C. only the cultivation of crops

D. the study of soil formation alone

2. Which of the following is an importance of agriculture to the national economy?

A. Provision of food

B. Provision of raw materials for industries

C. Provision of employment and foreign exchange

D. All of the above

3. The branch of agriculture concerned with the study and management of soils is called

A. agronomy

B. soil science (pedology)

C. horticulture

D. agricultural economics

4. The branch of agriculture concerned with the breeding, feeding and management of farm animals is called

A. agronomy

B. animal husbandry

C. horticulture

D. forestry

5. The layer of soil richest in organic matter and most suitable for plant growth is the

A. subsoil

B. topsoil

C. parent rock

D. bedrock

6. Soil formed mainly from the weathering of rocks, containing a balanced mixture of sand, silt and clay, is called

A. sandy soil

B. clay soil

C. loamy soil

D. laterite soil

7. Which of the following is a physical property of soil?

A. Soil pH

B. Nitrogen content

C. Soil texture

D. Organic matter content

8. The removal of the fertile topsoil by the action of water, wind or human activities is called

A. leaching

B. soil erosion

C. weathering

D. denudation

9. Which of the following is a method of controlling soil erosion?

A. Bush burning

B. Overgrazing

C. Contour ploughing

D. Continuous cropping without cover

10. The addition of organic or inorganic materials to the soil to improve its fertility is called

A. irrigation

B. manuring/fertilizer application

C. drainage

D. tillage

11. Which of the following is an example of an organic manure?

A. Urea

B. NPK fertilizer

C. Farmyard manure

D. Single superphosphate

12. Which of the following is an example of an inorganic (chemical) fertilizer?

A. Compost

B. Green manure

C. NPK fertilizer

D. Farmyard manure

13. The primary nutrient mainly responsible for vigorous vegetative (leafy) growth in plants is

A. nitrogen

B. phosphorus

C. potassium

D. calcium

14. The primary nutrient most associated with root development is

A. nitrogen

B. phosphorus

C. potassium

D. sulphur

15. Which of the following is a method of land preparation?

A. Clearing

B. Ploughing

C. Harrowing

D. All of the above

16. The farming system in which crops are grown continuously on the same piece of land year after year without a break is called

A. mixed farming

B. shifting cultivation

C. monocropping

D. crop rotation

17. The traditional farming system in which land is cultivated for a few years and then abandoned to regain its fertility is called

A. mixed cropping

B. shifting cultivation

C. mechanized farming

D. crop rotation

18. The practice of growing different crops in a planned sequence on the same piece of land over different seasons is called

A. mixed cropping

B. crop rotation

C. monocropping

D. intercropping

19. The practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land is called

A. crop rotation

B. mixed cropping

C. shifting cultivation

D. bush fallowing

20. Which of the following is an example of a cereal crop?

A. Maize

B. Cassava

C. Cowpea

D. Tomato

21. Which of the following is an example of a root and tuber crop?

A. Rice

B. Yam

C. Cowpea

D. Groundnut

22. Which of the following is an example of a legume crop?

A. Maize

B. Cowpea

C. Yam

D. Sorghum

23. A crop grown mainly for industrial use or export, rather than for direct local consumption, is called a

A. food crop

B. cash crop

C. cover crop

D. fodder crop

24. Which of the following is a method of propagating crops using vegetative parts rather than seeds?

A. Sowing

B. Use of stem cuttings

C. Direct seeding

D. Broadcasting

25. Which of the following is an insect pest of stored grains?

A. Weevil

B. Tick

C. Tapeworm

D. Housefly

26. Which of the following is a common field pest of maize?

A. Stem borer

B. Tick

C. Mite

D. Tapeworm

27. A disease of plants caused by fungi is best controlled using a

A. insecticide

B. fungicide

C. herbicide

D. rodenticide

28. A chemical substance used to kill or control weeds is called a

A. fungicide

B. herbicide

C. insecticide

D. nematicide

29. The process by which mature farm produce is gathered from the field is called

A. planting

B. harvesting

C. processing

D. marketing

30. Which of the following is a method of preserving farm produce to prevent spoilage?

A. Drying

B. Smoking

C. Canning

D. All of the above

31. Which of the following is a breed of cattle commonly reared in Nigeria?

A. White Fulani

B. Large White

C. Yorkshire

D. Landrace

32. The N’dama breed of cattle is particularly noted for its

A. high milk yield

B. trypanotolerance

C. long wool

D. egg production

33. The Yankasa is a breed of

A. cattle

B. sheep

C. pig

D. rabbit

34. Which of the following is a breed of poultry noted for high egg production?

A. Leghorn

B. Large White

C. Yankasa

D. N’dama

35. The system of livestock management in which animals are fully confined and dependent on the farmer for feed is called the

A. extensive system

B. intensive system

C. nomadic system

D. ranching system

36. The system of livestock rearing in which animals graze freely over a wide area is called the

A. intensive system

B. extensive system

C. semi-intensive system

D. zero grazing

37. A housing system in which poultry birds are kept on a floor covered with wood shavings or straw is called

A. battery cage system

B. deep litter system

C. free range system

D. slatted floor system

38. Feeds that are high in fibre and low in energy, such as hay and silage, are classified as

A. concentrates

B. roughages

C. additives

D. supplements

39. Feeds that are low in fibre and high in energy or protein, such as maize and groundnut cake, are classified as

A. roughages

B. concentrates

C. forages

D. browse plants

40. The preservation of green forage in an airtight condition for future feeding is called

A. haymaking

B. silage making

C. composting

D. fermentation

41. The period between mating and parturition (birth) in a cow is called the

A. oestrus period

B. gestation period

C. lactation period

D. weaning period

42. The recurring period during which a female animal is receptive to the male for mating is called

A. gestation

B. oestrus

C. lactation

D. parturition

43. The introduction of semen into the reproductive tract of a female animal without natural mating is called

A. natural mating

B. artificial insemination

C. castration

D. culling

44. The removal of the testes of a male animal to prevent it from breeding is called

A. dehorning

B. castration

C. docking

D. debeaking

45. Which of the following is a viral disease of poultry?

A. Coccidiosis

B. Newcastle disease

C. Fowl typhoid

D. Worm infestation

46. A disease of cattle transmitted mainly by the tsetse fly is

A. coccidiosis

B. trypanosomiasis

C. Newcastle disease

D. mastitis

47. The practice of removing weak, sick or unproductive animals from a herd is called

A. breeding

B. culling

C. weaning

D. vaccination

48. Which of the following is a factor of production in agriculture?

A. Land

B. Labour

C. Capital

D. All of the above

49. The record that shows the daily or periodic income and expenditure on a farm is called a

A. breeding record

B. feeding record

C. financial (income and expenditure) record

D. health record

50. A record kept to show the parentage, birth date and performance of a farm animal is called a

A. breeding record

B. cash book

C. sales record

D. inventory record

51. The document that lists all farm assets and their value at a particular time is called an

A. profit and loss account

B. inventory

C. invoice

D. receipt

52. Which of the following is a source of farm credit available to farmers?

A. Commercial banks

B. Cooperative societies

C. Microfinance banks

D. All of the above

53. The buying and selling of agricultural produce and inputs is referred to as

A. agricultural extension

B. agricultural marketing

C. agricultural mechanization

D. agricultural research

54. The government or institutional service that provides farmers with information, training and new technologies is called

A. agricultural marketing

B. agricultural extension

C. agricultural economics

D. agricultural engineering

55. The application of machinery and modern equipment to farming operations is called

A. agricultural extension

B. agricultural mechanization

C. agricultural marketing

D. agricultural economics

56. Which of the following is an advantage of agricultural mechanization?

A. It reduces drudgery and increases the speed of farm operations

B. It always reduces crop yield

C. It discourages large-scale farming

D. It eliminates the need for skilled labour

57. The controlled application of water to crops to supplement natural rainfall is called

A. drainage

B. irrigation

C. leaching

D. erosion

58. The removal of excess water from waterlogged soil to make it suitable for farming is called

A. irrigation

B. drainage

C. erosion

D. manuring

59. Which of the following is a renewable natural resource used in agriculture?

A. Crude oil

B. Solar energy

C. Coal

D. Natural gas

60. Which of the following practices helps to conserve agricultural natural resources for sustainable use?

A. Overgrazing

B. Deforestation

C. Afforestation and controlled land use

D. Continuous cropping without fallow

SECTION A MARKING GUIDE: OBJECTIVE ANSWER KEY

Each correct answer carries 1 mark. Total = 60 marks.

Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans
1	B	16	C	31	A	46	B
2	D	17	B	32	B	47	B
3	B	18	B	33	B	48	D
4	B	19	B	34	A	49	C
5	B	20	A	35	B	50	A
6	C	21	B	36	B	51	B
7	C	22	B	37	B	52	D
8	B	23	B	38	B	53	B
9	C	24	B	39	B	54	B
10	B	25	A	40	B	55	B
11	C	26	A	41	B	56	A
12	C	27	B	42	B	57	B
13	A	28	B	43	B	58	B
14	B	29	B	44	B	59	B
15	D	30	D	45	B	60	C

SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS (40 MARKS)

Answer any FOUR (4) questions only. Each question carries 10 marks.

1. (a) Define agriculture. (2 marks)

(b) State four importance of agriculture to the Nigerian economy. (8 marks)

2. (a) List and briefly describe the three main soil types based on texture. (6 marks)

(b) State two properties of a loamy soil that make it well suited to crop production. (4 marks)

3. (a) Distinguish between organic manure and inorganic fertilizer. (4 marks)

(b) State three advantages of organic manure over inorganic fertilizer. (6 marks)

4. (a) List four breeds each of cattle and poultry commonly reared in Nigeria. (4 marks)

(b) State two distinguishing characteristics each of the White Fulani cattle and the N’dama cattle. (6 marks)

5. (a) Distinguish between the intensive and extensive systems of livestock production. (4 marks)

(b) State three advantages and two disadvantages of the intensive system. (6 marks)

6. (a) List four classes of nutrients required by livestock. (4 marks)

(b) State three functions of protein and three functions of water in animal nutrition. (6 marks)

SECTION B MARKING GUIDE (ESSAY)

Each question carries 10 marks. Award marks as guided below, giving credit for any other correct and relevant point not listed.

Question 1

(a) Agriculture is the science and practice of cultivating crops and rearing livestock, together with the processing, storage and marketing of the resulting produce, for the purpose of meeting human food needs and generating economic benefit. (2 marks for a reasonable, complete definition)

(b) Any four points at 2 marks each: Provision of food for the growing population; provision of employment for a large proportion of the working population; provision of raw materials for agro-based industries; generation of income and foreign exchange through the export of cash crops; contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Question 2

(a) Any three at 2 marks each: Sandy soil, made up mainly of large particles, feels gritty, drains water quickly, has low water and nutrient holding capacity. Clay soil, made up mainly of very fine particles, feels sticky when wet, drains poorly, holds water and nutrients well but may become waterlogged. Loamy soil, a balanced mixture of sand, silt and clay, with good drainage, aeration, and water and nutrient holding capacity.

(b) Any two at 2 marks each: Good water holding capacity while still draining well; good aeration, allowing healthy root respiration; high nutrient retention, supporting good plant growth; easy to till and work with farm tools.

Question 3

(a) Organic manure is a soil amendment derived from plant or animal waste, such as farmyard manure or compost, which improves both soil structure and fertility. Inorganic fertilizer is a manufactured chemical compound, such as NPK or urea, that supplies specific plant nutrients in a concentrated form. (4 marks, 2 marks each)

(b) Any three at 2 marks each: Improves soil structure, aeration and water holding capacity in addition to supplying nutrients; releases nutrients slowly, reducing the risk of leaching; adds organic matter that supports beneficial soil organisms; is generally cheaper and more accessible to small-scale farmers where locally available; causes less environmental pollution compared to excessive chemical fertilizer use.

Question 4

(a) Cattle breeds (2 marks for any four): White Fulani, N’dama, Sokoto Gudali, Muturu, Kuri. Poultry breeds (2 marks for any four): Rhode Island Red, Leghorn, Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire, Fulani ecotype (local chicken).

(b) White Fulani (any two at 1.5 marks each): Large body size with long horns; light grey to white coat colour; kept mainly for meat and some milk; well adapted to trekking long distances. N’dama (any two at 1.5 marks each): Small to medium body size; trypanotolerant (resistant to trypanosomiasis carried by the tsetse fly); short horns; reddish brown to fawn coat colour, well suited to humid tsetse-infested zones.

Question 5

(a) The intensive system involves keeping animals fully confined in pens, cages or houses where they depend entirely on the farmer for feed, water and management. The extensive system involves allowing animals to roam and graze freely over a wide area with minimal confinement and management input. (4 marks for a clear, correct distinction)

(b) Advantages (any three at 1 mark each): Allows close monitoring and control of animal health; permits higher stocking density and production per unit area; makes feeding, breeding and disease control easier; reduces losses to predators and theft. Disadvantages (any two at 1.5 marks each): High cost of feeding, since all feed must be supplied by the farmer; high initial cost of housing and equipment; requires skilled labour and constant management; risk of rapid disease spread if hygiene is poor.

Question 6

(a) Any four (1 mark each): Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats and oils (lipids), Vitamins, Minerals, Water.

(b) Functions of protein (any three at 1 mark each): Builds and repairs body tissues; forms enzymes, hormones and antibodies; supports the growth of young animals; contributes to milk, egg and wool production. Functions of water (any three at 1 mark each): Acts as a solvent for digestion and transport of nutrients; regulates body temperature; forms a major component of blood, milk and body fluids; aids in the removal of waste products from the body.