waecE-LEARNING
Biology Paper 1 Practical, May/June 2010  
Questions:   1 2 3 4   Main
General Comments
Weakness/Remedies
Strength




Question 4

Study specimens M and N carefully and use them to answer questions 4(a) to 4(e).
(a) (i) State the agricultural classification of specimens M and N.[2 marks]
(ii) What advantage does the cultivation of specimen M have over the cultivation of specimen N? [1 mark]

(b) State (i) the main classes of food in each of specimens M and N;
(ii) the functions of the food classes named in 4(b )(i) above. [4 marks]

(c ) (i) Describe the state of specimens M and N.[2 marks]
(ii) Name the pest responsible for the state of specimens M and N.[1 mark]
(iii) State the phylum and class of the pest with reasons.(6 marks]
(iv) Name two other crops which the pest infests.[2 marks]
(d)(i) State three adaptive features of the pest to its mode of life[6 marks]
(ii) State four ways of preventing the activity of the named pest.[4 marks]
(e) State two other pests that can infest specimens M and N. [2 marks]
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OBSERVATION

Many candidates performed poorly in this question.
Most candidates could not correctly state the agricultural classification of specimens MlBean seed and specimen NlMaize grain. However, only a few of them could state the advantages of cultivating specimen M over specimen N. Some candidates wrote that specimen MlBean seed
grows faster. Expected answers include:
Agricultural Classification of M and N
MlBeanseed         -      Legume
NlMaize seed         -    Cereal
Advantage of cultivation ofM over cultivation of N
Acts a cover crop to prevent erosion
Enriches the soil/enhances the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates which are absorbed by the root of the plants.
Most candidates could correctly state the classes of foods in specimens M and N as well as the functions of the food classes named. However, only few candidates could describe the state of the specimens namely perforated, powdery, light, hollow etc. Many candidates omitted the answer while a few candidates interpreted the question to mean the state where the specimens could be found here and wrote Kaduna, Bauchi, Adamawa which made them lost marks.
Most candidates could identify the pests responsible for the damage of M and N the phylumand class of the pest with reasons as well as, other crops which the pest infest but many of the candidates lost marks due to wrong spellings.
Again many candidates could correctly state how the pest can be controlled as well as other pest of specimens M and N but could not properly state how the features of the pest adapt it to its mode of life. Expected answers include

Adaptive Features of Pest
long proboscis/Rostrum; for piercing/burrowing into the grain/feeding
hard forelimbs/elyton; to protect hind/inner membranous wing/soft body;
small body size; that will enable it penetrate/enter the grain
(Membranous) wings; for flying

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