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Question

Difficulty: HardLiteral Comprehension and Fact Retrieval

Read the passage below carefully:

In January 1985, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), located in Ibadan, introduced a revamped agronomic protocol designed to combat the spread of Black Pod disease caused by Phytophthora megakarya. Under this directive, plantation managers were advised to maintain a strict three-week spraying cycle during the peak rainy season using copper-based fungicides, rather than the traditional four-week schedule. Furthermore, the protocol explicitly mandated the immediate removal and burial of infected pods at a minimum depth of thirty centimeters to prevent spore dispersal by rain splash. Although the directive recommended shade tree pruning as an auxiliary microclimate control measure, it strictly prohibited the intercropping of cocoa with cassava due to root competition, allowing intercropping only with plantain during the initial two years of field establishment.

According to the passage, under the 1985 CRIN directive, under what specific condition was intercropping permitted on cocoa plantations?

  1. Only when using plantain crops during the initial two years of field establishmentAnswer
  2. B
    Provided that cassava is cultivated at a minimum depth of thirty centimeters alongside cocoa
  3. C
    Whenever shade trees are systematically pruned to ensure auxiliary microclimate control
  4. D
    Throughout the entire cultivation cycle if copper-based fungicides are sprayed every three weeks

Answer

Intercropping was permitted only with plantain during the initial two years of field establishment.
The passage explicitly specifies that intercropping was allowed 'only with plantain during the initial two years of field establishment.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the sentence addressing intercropping rules in the passage.
Found the explicit clause stating that the directive prohibited cassava intercropping while 'allowing intercropping only with plantain during the initial two years of field establishment.'
Direct fact retrieval requires locating exact statements about intercropping permissions.
2
Compare the retrieved explicit condition with the given choices.
The statement directly matches the restriction to plantain during the first two years of field establishment.
Verifies which option accurately reflects the passage details without combining or misinterpreting facts.

Key Concept

Literal Comprehension and Fact Retrieval
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Literal Comprehension and Fact Retrieval

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