Most Frequently repeated JAMB past questions for Agricultural Science:
Are you preparing for the Agricultural Science part of UTME, these are some frequently repeated past Questions to keep you practicing and prepared.
JAMB always have a way of repeated some certain questions and it is always advisable to constantly practice past questions. Here are few of the questions .
1. What is the primary function of the stomata in plants?
a) Photosynthesis
b) Transpiration
c) Respiration
d) Reproduction
Answer: b) Transpiration
Explanation: Stomata are small pores on the surface of leaves that regulate the exchange of gases and water vapor between the plant and its environment. One of their main functions is to facilitate transpiration, the loss of water vapor from the plant.
2. Which of the following is a leguminous crop?
a) Maize
b) Rice
c) Cowpea
d) Millet
Answer: c) Cowpea
Explanation: Leguminous crops, like cowpea, have the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria present in nodules on their roots.
3. Which of the following farming systems involves the growing of crops and rearing of animals on the same piece of land?
A) Monoculture
b) Mixed farming
c) Nomadic farming
d) Shifting cultivation
Answer: b) Mixed farming
Explanation: Mixed farming involves both crop cultivation and animal rearing on the same farm, allowing for a more diversified and sustainable agricultural system.
4. Which of the following is not a method of weed control in agriculture?
A) Herbicides
b) Crop rotation
c) Manual weeding
d) Insecticides
Answer: d) Insecticides
Explanation: Insecticides are used to control insect pests, not weeds. Methods such as herbicides, crop rotation, and manual weeding are commonly used for weed control.
5. What is the primary function of nitrogen in plants?
a) Formation of chlorophyll
b) Formation of proteins
c) Energy storage
d) Cell wall structure
Answer: b) Formation of proteins
Explanation: Nitrogen is a crucial component of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins play essential roles in various cellular functions within plants.
6. These questions cover a range of topics commonly tested in JAMB Agricultural Science exams and provide explanations for each answer.
7. Which of the following is an example of a ruminant animal?
a) Pig
b) Horse
c) Sheep
d) Chicken
Answer: c) Sheep
Explanation: Ruminant animals have a four-chambered stomach that allows them to digest cellulose-rich plant material through a process of fermentation. Sheep are examples of ruminants.
8. Which of the following soil types has the smallest particles?
a) Sand
b) Silt
c) Clay
d) Loam
Answer: c) Clay
Explanation: Clay particles are the smallest among the soil types listed. They have a high surface area and hold water and nutrients well but can also compact easily.
9. What is the primary function of phosphorus in plants?
a) Photosynthesis
b) Energy transfer
c) Cell division
d) Water uptake
Answer: c) Cell division
Explanation: Phosphorus is essential for various cellular processes in plants, including cell division, DNA synthesis, and energy transfer through ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
10. Which of the following is a non-renewable natural resource?
a) Wind
b) Sunlight
c) Coal
d) Water
Answer: c) Coal
Explanation: Coal is a non-renewable resource because it is formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals. Once it is mined and burned, it cannot be replaced within a human time scale.
11. What is the primary function of the male reproductive organ in plants?
a) Production of pollen grains
b) Production of seeds
c) Production of fruits
d) Absorption of water
Answer: a) Production of pollen grains
Explanation: The male reproductive organ in plants, the stamen, produces pollen grains containing the male gametes (sperm cells), which are essential for fertilizing the female reproductive organs (ovules) and producing seeds.
12. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?
a) Nitrogen
b) Oxygen
c) Carbon dioxide
d) Hydrogen
Answer: c) Carbon dioxide
Explanation: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming by trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.
13. Which of the following is an example of a perennial crop?
a) Wheat
b) Rice
c) Banana
d) Maize
Answer: c) Banana
Explanation: Perennial crops are plants that live for more than two years and produce multiple harvests. Examples include trees (e.g., banana) and shrubs.
14. Which of the following is a function of the skeletal system in animals?
a) Transport of nutrients
b) Regulation of body temperature
c) Protection of internal organs
d) Production of hormones
Answer: c) Protection of internal organs
Explanation: The skeletal system provides structural support and protects internal organs from injury in animals.
15. What is the primary function of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in leguminous plants?
a) Absorption of water
b) Production of oxygen
c) Fixation of nitrogen
d) Synthesis of carbohydrates
Answer: c) Fixation of nitrogen
Explanation: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria form symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants and convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by the plants for growth.
16. Which of the following is a method of soil conservation?
a) Overgrazing
b) Deforestation
c) Terracing
d) Monoculture
Answer: c) Terracing
Explanation: Terracing involves creating steps or ridges on sloping land to reduce soil erosion by slowing down the flow of water and allowing it to infiltrate the soil.
17. Which of the following is an example of a non-point source of water pollution?
a) Factory discharge
b) Sewage treatment plant
c) Pesticide runoff from fields
d) Industrial waste dumping
Answer: c) Pesticide runoff from fields
Explanation: Non-point source pollution refers to pollution that comes from diffuse sources, such as agricultural fields, where pesticides and fertilizers can be carried into water bodies by rainwater runoff.
18. What is the primary function of the ovary in plants?
a) Production of pollen grains
b) Production of seeds
c) Production of fruits
d) Absorption of water
Answer: c) Production of fruits
Explanation: The ovary in plants contains ovules, which, when fertilized, develop into seeds. The ovary also undergoes changes after fertilization to form the fruit, which protects and aids in the dispersal of seeds.
19. Which of the following is a micronutrient required by plants in small quantities?
A) Nitrogen
b) Phosphorus
c) Potassium
d) Iron
Answer: d) Iron
Explanation: Iron is a micronutrient essential for various biochemical processes in plants, such as photosynthesis and the synthesis of chlorophyll.
20. Which of the following is a method of poultry farming?
a) Silviculture
b) Apiculture
c) Aviculture
d) Sericulture
Answer: c) Aviculture
Explanation: Aviculture refers to the rearing of birds, particularly domestic birds like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, for meat and egg production.
21. What is the primary function of the sepal in plants?
a) Protection of the flower bud
b) Production of pollen grains
c) Attraction of pollinators
d) Photosynthesis
Answer: a) Protection of the flower bud
Explanation: The sepal is a leaf-like structure that protects the flower bud as it develops and often remains attached to the base of the flower after it blooms.
22. Which of the following is a method of controlling soil erosion?
a) Intensive farming
b) Crop rotation
c) Overgrazing
d) Deforestation
Answer: b) Crop rotation
Explanation: Crop rotation involves growing different crops in a sequence on the same piece of land to improve soil health, prevent nutrient depletion, and reduce erosion.
23. Which of the following is a component of the male reproductive system in mammals?
a) Ovary
b) Testis
c) Oviduct
d) Uterus
Answer: b) Testis
Explanation: The testis is the primary male reproductive organ responsible for producing sperm and male sex hormones, such as testosterone.
24. Which of the following is a method of plant propagation?
a) Grafting
b) Transplanting
c) Weeding
d) Fertilizing
Answer: a) Grafting
Explanation: Grafting involves joining the tissues of two different plants so that they grow together as one. It is commonly used in horticulture to propagate desirable traits from one plant onto another.
25. Which of the following is a type of plant hormone?
a) Glucose
b) Starch
c) Auxin
d) Protein
Answer: c) Auxin
Explanation: Auxins are plant hormones that regulate various aspects of plant growth and development, including cell elongation, root initiation, and fruit development.
26. What is the primary function of the cuticle in plants?
a) Gas exchange
b) Water absorption
c) Protection against pathogens
d) Reduction of transpiration
Answer: d) Reduction of transpiration
Explanation: The cuticle is a waxy layer covering the epidermis of leaves and stems in plants. Its primary function is to reduce water loss by transpiration and protect against pathogens and environmental stress.
27. Which of the following is a method of weed control that involves the use of physical barriers to prevent weed growth?
A) Mulching
b) Crop rotation
c) Herbicide application
d) Irrigation
Answer: a) Mulching
Explanation: Mulching involves covering the soil around plants with materials such as straw, leaves, or plastic to suppress weed growth, conserve soil moisture, and moderate soil temperature.
28. What is the primary function of the phloem in plants?
a) Water and mineral absorption
b) Support and structure
c) Transport of sugars and nutrients
d) Photosynthesis
Answer: c) Transport of sugars and nutrients
Explanation: The phloem is a vascular tissue responsible for transporting sugars, nutrients, and other organic molecules produced during photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant for growth and storage.
29. Which of the following farming practices involves the deliberate cultivation of a single crop species on a large scale?
A) Polyculture
b) Monoculture
c) Agroforestry
d) Aquaculture
Answer: b) Monoculture
Explanation: Monoculture refers to the agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a large area. It is often associated with industrial agriculture and can lead to increased susceptibility to pests and diseases.
30. Which of the following is a method of livestock management that involves moving animals to different pastures or ranges to prevent overgrazing and promote soil health?
a) Intensive grazing
b) Continuous grazing
c) Rotational grazing
d) Free-range grazing
Answer: c) Rotational grazing
Explanation: Rotational grazing involves dividing pastures into smaller paddocks and rotating livestock between them to optimize forage utilization, minimize soil erosion, and improve pasture productivity.
31. What is the primary function of the cotyledon in a seed?
a) Protection of the embryo
b) Absorption of water
c) Storage of food reserves
d) Production of roots
Answer: c) Storage of food reserves
Explanation: The cotyledon is a seed structure that stores food reserves, which are used by the germinating seedling until it can produce its own food through photosynthesis.
32. Which of the following is a method of plant propagation that involves separating a portion of a parent plant to grow a new individual?
A) Grafting
b) Budding
c) Layering
d) Division
Answer: d) Division
Explanation: Division is a method of plant propagation where a portion of the parent plant, such as a rhizome or tuber, is separated and planted to grow into a new individual.
33. Which of the following is a characteristic of loamy soil?
a) High fertility
b) Large particle size
c) Poor drainage
d) Low organic matter content
Answer: a) High fertility
Explanation: Loamy soil has a balanced combination of sand, silt, and clay particles, making it fertile and suitable for most crops. It retains moisture well while still allowing for good drainage.
34. Which of the following is an example of an annual crop?
a) Wheat
b) Coconut
c) Pineapple
d) Coffee
Answer: a) Wheat
Explanation: Wheat is an annual crop that completes its life cycle, including germination, growth, reproduction, and death, within a single growing season.
35. Which of the following is a method of water conservation in agriculture?
a) Over-irrigation
b) Mulching
c) Drainage
d) Flooding
Answer: b) Mulching
Explanation: Mulching helps conserve water in agriculture by reducing evaporation from the soil surface, suppressing weed growth, and maintaining soil moisture levels.
36. What is the primary function of the cambium in plants?
a) Photosynthesis
b) Transpiration
c) Growth in thickness
d) Absorption of water
Answer: c) Growth in thickness
Explanation: The cambium is a layer of actively dividing cells in the vascular tissue of plants responsible for secondary growth, which increases the diameter of stems and roots.