Most tropical plants shed their leaves during dry weather conditions in order to

• A. reduce their growth rate.
• B. conserve water
• C. reduce competition
• D. minimize the rate of photosynthesis

(a) Copy and complete the table of values for the relation \(y = 3x^{2} - 5x - 7\).

(b) Using scales of 2 cm to 1 unit on the x- axis and 2 cm to 5 units on the y- axis, draw the graph of \(y = 3x^{2} - 5x - 7, -3 \leq x \leq 4\).

(c) From the graph : (i) find the roots of the equation \(3x^{2} - 5x - 7 = 0\) ; (ii) estimate the minimum value of y ; (iii) calculate the gradient of the curve at the point x = 2.

Who among the following does not render direct service?

• A. Teacher
• B. Musician
• C. Doctor
• D. Retailer

Farm surveying can be defined as the

• A. leveling of land during road construction
• B. sighting of structures through a theodolite
• C. making measurements on land from which maps are drawn
• D. estimation of the type and properties of soil on a farm

Lagos Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong and Calabar are cities which have attained considerable importance because they?

• A. are cross roads to international airlines
• B. have seaports
• C. are densely populated
• D. are administrative capitals

The separation of ancient Gondwana land into different land masses was caused mainly by

• A. isostatic shift
• B. earthquakes
• C. vulcanicity
• D. continental drift

The constituents of baking powder that makes the dough to rise is

• A) NaHCO₃
• B) NaOH
• C) Na₂CO₃
• D) NaCl

A compound which liberates carbon (IV) oxide from a hydrogentrioxocarbonate (lV) could have the molecular formula

• A. C₅H₂OH
• B. C₃H₄
• C. HCOOH
• D. H₂O₂

The molecular formula of a common organic laboratory anaesthetic is

• A) CHCl3
• B) CHI3
• C) CCl4
• D) CHF3

This question is based on Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbirdge.

Henchard arranged a meeting with Susan that the Ring instead of in his house because

• A. the Ring was a meeting-warden for lovers
• B. the Ring was a spot for appointments of furtive kind
• C. Susan was ashamed to come over to his house
• D. his reputation as the church-warden and mayor was at stake