“200”, Aptitude Test
Questions and Answers for Research Assistant II – Agriculture
Economics and Agribusiness – TALIRI.
ABSTRACT
This document provides 200 multiple-choice
questions with answers and rationales to help candidates prepare for the Public
Service aptitude test for Research Assistant – Agricultural Economics and
Agribusiness at TALIRI. The questions cover agricultural economics,
agribusiness, research methods, statistics, farm management, and general
knowledge, reflecting the style and difficulty of actual aptitude tests. Answer
choices are presented in horizontal format with clear rationales to support
effective self-study and exam readiness.
Prepared by:
Agricultural Economists
Compiled by Johnson Yesaya Mgelwa.
A lawyer stationed in Dar-es-salaam.
0628729934.
Date: August 1, 2025
Dear applicants,
This collection of questions and answers
has been carefully prepared to help all of you to understand the key areas
tested during the Research Assistant II interview. The goal is to provide a
useful, and practical study guide so you can all perform confidently and fairly
in the selection process. I wish you the best of luck, and may this resource
support you in achieving success!
Warm regards,
Johnson Yesaya Mgelwa
For Personal Use by Applicants Preparing
for Research Assistant II – Agriculture Economics and Agribusiness – TALIRI’s
interview.
ALL
QUESTIONS TOGETHER.
1. Which of the following best defines Agricultural Economics?
A) The study of how to increase crop
yields through irrigation B) The study of how to apply economic principles to
agriculture for efficient resource use C) The study of marketing techniques for
agricultural products D) The study of rural sociology in farming communities
Answer: B. The study of how to apply
economic principles to agriculture for efficient resource use
Rationale: Agricultural Economics deals with
applying economic theories and principles to agriculture to ensure efficient
allocation of resources, unlike agronomy or marketing alone.
2. Agribusiness primarily involves:
A) Only production of crops and livestock
B) Only processing of agricultural goods C) The entire chain from input supply,
production, processing to marketing D) The financial sector supporting
agriculture
Answer: C. The entire chain from input
supply, production, processing to marketing
Rationale: Agribusiness covers the whole system:
input supply, farm production, processing, distribution, and marketing, not
just a single activity.
3. Which sampling method gives each element of a population an
equal chance of being selected?
A) Purposive sampling B) Simple random
sampling C) Stratified sampling D) Quota sampling
Answer: B. Simple random sampling
Rationale: Simple random sampling is the method
where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected,
ensuring fairness.
4. The main purpose of a farm budget is to:
A) Compare farm size with other farms B)
Record daily farm activities C) Estimate farm costs and returns for
decision-making D) Track rainfall patterns in farming seasons
Answer: C. Estimate farm costs and
returns for decision-making
Rationale: A farm budget projects income and
expenses, enabling farmers and researchers to analyze profitability and make
informed decisions.
5. Which among the following is NOT a secondary data source?
A) Government statistical abstracts B)
World Bank agricultural reports C) Farmers’ interviews
on their current practices D) Published journal articles
Answer: C. Farmers’ interviews on their
current practices
Rationale: Farmers’ interviews generate primary
data, while reports, publications, and abstracts are secondary sources.
6. Gross Margin in farm management is calculated as:
A) Total Revenue – Fixed Costs B) Total
Revenue – Total Costs C) Total Revenue – Variable Costs D) Total Revenue –
Depreciation
Answer: C. Total Revenue – Variable Costs
Rationale: Gross Margin is the difference between
total revenue and variable costs, helping in short-term farm decision-making.
7. Which of the following statistical tools is most appropriate
for analyzing the relationship between farm inputs and outputs?
A) Chi-square test B) Correlation and
regression analysis C) ANOVA D) Median test
Answer: B. Correlation and regression
analysis
Rationale: Correlation and regression measure the
degree and form of relationship between inputs and outputs in agriculture.
8. Opportunity cost in agricultural economics refers to:
A) The cost of farm labor B) The value of
the next best alternative forgone C) The total farm expenses incurred D) The
market price of inputs
Answer: B. The value of the next best
alternative forgone
Rationale: Opportunity cost is the benefit lost
when one alternative is chosen over the next best option.
9. Which of the following best describes agribusiness value chain?
A) Only farm production activities B) The
sequence of activities adding value from input supply to final consumer C)
Marketing of only export crops D) Financial institutions supporting farmers
Answer: B. The sequence of activities
adding value from input supply to final consumer
Rationale: Value chain emphasizes all steps adding
value from input provision, production, processing, distribution, and
consumption.
10. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is mainly used to:
A) Measure farm productivity B) Measure
inflation and changes in purchasing power C) Measure rural poverty D) Measure
exchange rate movements
Answer: B. Measure inflation and changes
in purchasing power
Rationale: CPI tracks the average change in prices
of a basket of goods and services, commonly used to measure inflation.
11. The research design that involves observing subjects in their
natural environment without intervention is:
A) Experimental design B) Descriptive
survey design C) Observational design D) Longitudinal design
Answer: C. Observational design
Rationale: Observational design entails studying
subjects without manipulating variables, ensuring natural behavior recording.
12. The main reason for conducting on-farm trials is to:
A) Reduce costs of research stations B)
Test technologies under real farmer conditions C) Avoid duplication of research
results D) Train researchers in data collection
Answer: B. Test technologies under real
farmer conditions
Rationale: On-farm trials validate technologies
under actual farmer conditions, ensuring practical applicability.
13. In research data entry, which software is most commonly used in
Tanzania agricultural research institutions?
A) MS Word B) SPSS C) Photoshop D)
AutoCAD
Answer: B. SPSS
Rationale: SPSS is widely used for statistical data
entry and analysis in social and agricultural sciences.
14. Which financial ratio indicates the ability of a farm business
to pay short-term obligations?
A) Net profit margin B) Current ratio C)
Debt-to-equity ratio D) Return on investment
Answer: B. Current ratio
Rationale: Current ratio (current assets ÷ current
liabilities) measures a firm’s liquidity and ability to meet short-term debts.
15. A hypothesis in research is best defined as:
A) A theory proven true B) An assumption
that requires no testing C) A testable statement
predicting a relationship between variables D) A summary of findings
Answer: C. A testable statement
predicting relationship between variables
Rationale: A hypothesis is a tentative, testable
prediction about the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
16. Which of the following is a major advantage of stratified
sampling over simple random sampling?
A) It eliminates sampling errors B) It
ensures representation of key sub-groups C) It requires no prior knowledge of
population D) It is the least costly method
Answer: B. It ensures representation of key
sub-groups
Rationale: Stratified sampling guarantees that
important sub-groups (e.g., regions, gender) are included, enhancing accuracy.
17. The main objective of agricultural marketing is:
A) To increase farm size B) To facilitate
movement of goods from farm to consumer efficiently C) To increase post-harvest
losses D) To reduce farm productivity
Answer: B. To facilitate movement of goods from
farm to consumer efficiently
Rationale: Agricultural marketing ensures effective
movement of farm produce from producers to consumers, maximizing value.
18. The elasticity of demand for food commodities is generally:
A) Perfectly elastic B) Unit elastic C)
Relatively inelastic D) Perfectly inelastic
Answer: C. Relatively inelastic
Rationale: Food commodities have relatively
inelastic demand because people must consume food regardless of price changes.
19. In research report writing, the section that explains methods
of data collection and analysis is called:
A) Introduction B) Literature review C)
Methodology D) Abstract
Answer: C. Methodology
Rationale: The methodology describes how data was
collected, analyzed, and interpreted, ensuring replicability.
20. A key assumption in perfect competition is that:
A) There are many buyers and sellers with
free market entry and exit B) A single firm controls the market C) There are
government price controls D) Products are highly differentiated
Answer: A. There are many buyers and
sellers with free market entry and exit
Rationale: Perfect competition assumes numerous
buyers/sellers, homogenous products, and free market entry/exit.
21. The time value of money principle suggests that:
A) Money today is
worth more than the same amount in the future B) Money today is worth less
than in the future C) Money has no relation to time D) Inflation has no effect
on money value
Answer: A. Money today is worth more than
the same amount in the future
Rationale: Because of inflation and opportunity
cost, money today has higher value than the same sum in the future.
22. The primary purpose of extension services in agriculture is to:
A) Collect taxes from farmers B)
Disseminate new technologies and practices to farmers C) Enforce farm
regulations D) Replace farmers in decision-making
Answer: B. Disseminate new technologies and
practices to farmers
Rationale: Extension services transfer
research-based knowledge and innovations to farmers, improving productivity.
23. Which type of research is conducted to solve immediate
practical problems?
A) Basic research B) Applied research C)
Theoretical research D) Fundamental research
Answer: B. Applied research
Rationale: Applied research seeks to address
specific, practical problems, unlike basic research which expands general
knowledge.
24. The law of diminishing returns states that:
A) Adding more inputs always increases
output proportionally B) After a certain point, additional input yields
progressively smaller increases in output C) Output always remains constant
regardless of inputs D) The value of output is independent of input levels
Answer: B. After a certain point,
additional input yields progressively smaller increases in output
Rationale: Beyond a certain level of input,
marginal productivity decreases, a key principle in farm economics.
25. In project proposal writing, the section that justifies the
need for the project is called:
A) Objectives B) Problem statement C)
Literature review D) Conclusion
Answer: B. Problem statement
Rationale: The problem statement highlights the
issue to be addressed, providing justification for the project proposal.
26. Which factor is considered a fixed cost in farm management?
A) Fertilizer | B) Pesticides | C) Land
rent | D) Hired labor
Answer: C. Land rent
Rationale: Land rent is a fixed cost because it
does not change with production level, unlike fertilizer or labor which vary
with output.
27. The main goal of agricultural policy in Tanzania is to:
A) Increase food imports | B) Reduce
agricultural exports | C) Improve food security and rural incomes | D)
Discourage farm mechanization
Answer: C. Improve food security and rural
incomes
Rationale: Tanzanian agricultural policies aim at
food security, self-sufficiency, rural poverty reduction, and increased
incomes.
28. Which computer program is most used for spreadsheet data entry
in research?
A) MS Excel | B) SPSS | C) Stata | D)
EpiData
Answer: A. MS Excel
Rationale: Microsoft Excel is the most common
spreadsheet tool for data entry, cleaning, and preliminary analysis.
29. Which of the following is an example of a capital input in
agriculture?
A) Fertilizer | B) Seeds | C) Tractor |
D) Agro-chemicals
Answer: C. Tractor
Rationale: A tractor is a capital asset used over
time, while seeds, fertilizer, and chemicals are variable inputs.
30. Which of the following correctly describes GDP contribution of
agriculture in Tanzania?
A) Agriculture is declining and
contributes less than 10% | B) Agriculture remains significant, contributing
around one-quarter of GDP | C) Agriculture contributes over 70% | D)
Agriculture has no contribution to GDP
Answer: B. Agriculture remains
significant, contributing around one-quarter of GDP
Rationale: Agriculture still contributes about 25–30% of Tanzania’s GDP and is a key sector.
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