Free CXC Agricultural Science Paper 2 May/June 2014 past paper from 2014. Includes a worked answer key. Open the PDF, take a timed test, and study with AI on Caribbean AI.
Answer keys are free on Caribbean AI. View the answers to every past-paper question at no cost - no payment needed - with step-by-step worked solutions and instant AI marking available on Premium.
CSEC Agricultural Science Paper 2 May/June 2014 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers
Free CXC Agricultural Science Paper 2 May/June 2014 past paper from 2014. Includes a worked answer key. Open the PDF, take a timed test, and study with AI on Caribbean AI.
Opening the interactive papers…
Every question from this paper as text. See the answers and worked solutions. Questions are the property of the Caribbean Examinations Council; Caribbean AI is not affiliated with CXC.
Distinguish between 'Good Agricultural Practices' (GAP) and 'Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point' (HACCP).
GAP HACCP
[2 marks]
Choose the correct words from the words in brackets to complete the following sentence.
(human resources, services, money, goods, animals)
The CARICOM Single Market and Economy enables free movement of ____________________________ capital, ____________________________ and labour across member states in the Caribbean.
[2 marks]
Identify TWO advantages of keeping farm records.
[2 marks]
Farmer Jane's labour record for three casual labourers is shown in Table 1. Advise Farmer Jane on TWO bits of information lacking in this record.
| Activity | Number of Days | Total Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Land clearing | 5 | 300 |
| Planting | 7 |
| 100 |
| Pruning | 2 | 100 |
| Fertilizing and Harvesting | 20 | 200 |
| Total Labour Cost | 700 |
[2 marks]
A bag of fertilizer is labelled 8 : 16 : 24.
What type of fertilizer does this represent?
[1 mark]
Calculate the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio in this fertilizer.
[1 mark]
Mr John produces compost on his farm by placing waste plant material in a heap, turning it regularly and adding water to maintain moist conditions. Despite his effort the composting period takes about six months.
Suggest ONE way by which Mr John can reduce the composting period and give a reason for your answer.
[2 marks]
A farmer wants to make a seedbed to sow his spinach seeds.
Identify TWO secondary tillage implements that he could use in preparing this seedbed.
[2 marks]
Farmer Kahn grows genetically modified papaya on his farm.
Suggest TWO advantages of using genetically modified plants.
[2 marks]
State ONE function of the gizzard during digestion in poultry.
[1 mark]
Name ONE material that can be added to a poultry diet to aid the function stated in (i) above.
[1 mark]
A student notices that rabbits are eating their own soft faeces at night and thinks that they are sick. Explain to the student TWO benefits of this habit to the rabbits.
[2 marks]
What is meant by the term 'balanced ration'?
[2 marks]
Table 2 shows information on the label of two poultry feeds.
| Constituent | Feed A (%) | Feed B (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Crude protein (min.) | 20.0 | 23.0 |
| Crude fat (min.) | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| Crude fibre (max.) | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Phosphorus (min.) | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Calcium (min.) | 0.7 | 0.9 |
Which of the two feeds is BETTER suited for broiler birds at 4–6 weeks of age?
[1 mark]
Explain why fibre is an important component in BOTH feeds.
[1 mark]
Farmer Mungal has been producing lettuce for five years and has recently started to produce it organically. Next to Farmer Mungal's plot, Suriya grows tomato which she frequently sprays with inorganic pesticides.
Explain what is meant by 'organic farming'.
[2 marks]
State ONE way in which organic farming is likely to INCREASE farm income.
[1 mark]
Advise Farmer Mungal of TWO reasons why he may NOT obtain organic certification for his lettuce farm.
[2 marks]
Ms Zoe operates a one-hectare farm on which she cultivates cauliflower and eggplant to supply to a hotel. Sales to the hotel have been good and she is seeking to further expand production by another hectare. She employs seven casual labourers.
Identify the type of budget that Ms Zoe needs to assist her in making the decision to expand her farm.
[1 mark]
Based on the information given, give TWO reasons why Ms Zoe should expand her production to two hectares.
[2 marks]
Assuming that the price received for her produce will not change, advise Ms Zoe of TWO ways by which she could improve the profitability of her farm.
[2 marks]
Ms Zoe has recently acquired a handheld tractor that costs $1000. Assuming a rate of depreciation of 10% per annum, calculate the value of the tractor after five years. Show all your working.
[Depreciation = cost % depreciation number of years Value = cost – depreciation]
[2 marks]
A farmer planted a cabbage crop which he harvested after six weeks. The harvested cabbages were immediately placed in a crocus bag and transported in an open-tray truck to the market. The farmer was unable to sell the majority of his cabbages because of poor quality.
[6 marks]
Explain the difference between harvest and postharvest operations.
[2 marks]
Identify TWO harvest or TWO postharvest practices which contributed to the poor quality cabbages and suggest appropriate measures to overcome them.
[4 marks]
The farmer observes that after ploughing and rotavating the soil on his land, it becomes powdery and the particles are easily blown away by the wind.
Explain THREE environmentally friendly soil-management practices which could be used to correct this problem.
[6 marks]
A landless goat farmer allows his goats to graze in a nearby communal pasture of local grasses.
State TWO advantages and ONE disadvantage of this method of grazing.
[3 marks]
The farmer is also rearing layer birds for table eggs. He uses the piece of equipment shown in Figure 1.
[3 marks]
Identify the piece of equipment shown in Figure 1.
[1 mark]
Explain how this piece of equipment is used to separate fertile eggs from infertile eggs.
[2 marks]
A beekeeper notices that a new queen with many worker bees emerges from the hive and forms a swarm on a nearby tree.
[6 marks]
Suggest THREE reasons why the bees have swarmed.
[3 marks]
Explain ONE management practice that the beekeeper could adopt to prevent swarming.
[2 marks]
Suggest ONE advantage of swarming to the beekeeper.
[1 mark]