SECOND PERIODICAL TEST IN INTRODUCTION ON WORLD RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEM

School Year 2024-2025

Instruction: Read each statement carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on separate sheet.
1. Which of the following is considered the oldest religion among the three?
A. Hinduism
B. Theravada Buddhism
C. Mahayana Buddhism
D. None of the above
2. What is the primary sacred text of Theravada Buddhism?
A. Vedas
B. Tripitaka
C. Bhagavad Gita
D. Mahayana Sutras
3. Which concept in Hinduism refers to the actions and their consequences?
A. Dharma
B. Karma
C. Moksha
D. Samsara
4. Who is the historical founder of Buddhism?
A. Zoroaster
B. Mahavira
C. Jesus Christ
D. Siddhartha Gautama
5. In Hinduism, which deity is known as the preserver of the universe?
A. Shiva
B. Brahma
C. Vishnu
D. Ganesha
6. Which of the following is a key belief in Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes compassion?
A. Arhat
B. Bodhisattva
C. Nirvana
D. Dhamma
7. What term refers to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in both Hinduism and Buddhism?
A. Anatta
B. Samsara
C. Nirvana
D. Moksha
8. Which Hindu scripture is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna?
 A. Vedas
B. Puranas
C. Dharma Shastras
D. Bhagavad Gita
9. What does Theravada literally mean?
A. Great Vehicle
B. Southern Tradition
C. Teaching of the Elders
D. Path of Enlightenment
10. Which aspect is emphasized in Mahayana Buddhism that is not as prevalent in Theravada?
A. Individual enlightenment
B. Community practice
C. Compassion for others
D. Rituals and ceremonies
11. What is the ultimate goal of Hinduism?
A. Enlightenment
B. Moksha
C. Nirvana
D. Salvation
12. In what country is Theravada Buddhism predominantly practiced?
A. Japan
B. Thailand
C. Tibet
D. China
13. Who are the Trimurti in Hinduism?
A. The three main gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
B. Three aspects of the soul
C. Bodhisattvas
D. The three jewels of Buddhism
14. Which Mahayana Buddhist text discusses the concept of emptiness?
A. The Heart Sutra
B. The Lotus Sutra
C. The Diamond Sutra
D. All of the above
15. What is the main difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism?
A. Number of teachings
B. View on the path to enlightenment
C. Type of meditation practiced
D. Origin of beliefs
16. Which principle involves performing one’s duty according to their social and moral obligations in Hinduism?
A. Karma
B. Dharma
C. Reincarnation
D. Moksha
17. What is the central practice of Buddhism that involves meditation to attain enlightenment?
 A. Yoga
B. Zazen
C. Sati
D. Bhakti
18. Which festival is celebrated by Hindus to honor the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya?
A. Holi
B. Durga Puja
C. Diwali
D. Navaratri
19. What is the term for the ultimate state of release from the cycle of samsara ?
A. Nirvana
B. Moksha
C. Enlightenment
D. Bliss
20. Which of the following is a major text that recounts the history and exploits of Lord Krishna?
A. Mahabharata
B. Ramayana
C. Vedas
D. Upanishads
21. What is the primary text associated with Taoism?
A. The Analects
B. The Tao Te Ching
C. The Bhagavad Gita
D. The Torah
22. Which of the following is a central concept in Confucianism?
A. Kami
B. Tao
C. Ren (benevolence)
D. Yin and Yang
23. What are the spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena called?
A. Ancestors
B. Kami
C. Deities
D. Buddhas
24. What is the main focus of Confucian teachings?
A. Morality and ethics in human interactions
B. The natural order of the universe
C. The worship of nature spirits
D. Meditation and personal enlightenment
25. Which of the following best describes the Taoist concept of "Wu Wei"?
A. Active control and governance
B. Non-action or effortless action
C. Ritualistic worship
D. Moral training and education
26. The following are common practice in Shintoism except:
 A. Ritual purification
B. Ancestor worship
C. Meditation in silence
D. Offering to kami
27. Confucius emphasized the importance of which of the following relationships?
A. Humanity and nature
B. Ruler and subject
C. Individual and cosmos
D. Self and community
28. What is the primary goal of a Taoist's life?
A. Achieving political power
B. Harmonizing with the Tao (the Way)
C. Attaining knowledge through scriptural studies
D. Practicing rituals to appease the gods
29. In Shinto, what is the purpose of a torii gate?
A. To serve as a tomb for the dead
B. To represent the beginning of sacred space
C. To mark the boundary of cities
D. To indicate a place of worship for Buddhism
30. Which of the following statements is true about Confucianism?
A. It strictly emphasizes individualism over community.
B. It advocates for a classless society.
C. It holds that moral virtues are essential for a harmonious society.
D. It teaches that heaven is indifferent to human affairs.
31. What is the concept of "Anatta" in Theravada Buddhism?
A. The idea that all beings are equal and interconnected
B. The concept that all phenomena are empty and lacking a permanent self
C. The notion that all beings are reborn in a cycle of suffering
D. The idea that all beings are destined for enlightenment
32. What is the significance of the "Pali Canon" in Theravada Buddhism?
A. It is a collection of devotional songs and prayers
B. It is a collection of mythological stories about the Buddha's life
C. It is a collection of philosophical treatises on the nature of reality
D. It is the earliest and most authoritative scriptural text of Theravada Buddhism, containing the teachings of the Buddha
33. What is the central concept of Mahayana Buddhism, which emphasizes the ideal of the bodhisattva?
A. Karma (the law of cause and effect)
B. Nirvana (liberation from the cycle of suffering)
C. Dukkha (the suffering inherent in all existence)
D. Compassion (the pursuit of enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings)
34. Which of the following is a key Mahayana Buddhist doctrine that rejects the idea of an eternal, unchanging self?
A. Anatman (no self)
B. Anitya (impermanence)
C. Shunyata (emptiness)
D. Karma (the law of cause and effect)
35. What is a common Mahayana Buddhist practice aimed at cultivating compassion and wisdom?
 A. Meditation on the impermanence of all phenomena
B. Recitation of mantras and sutras
C. Engaging in acts of charity and generosity
D. Studying the teachings of the Buddha
36. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the similarities and differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism?
A. Mahayana Buddhism is a reform movement that emerged in response to the perceived shortcomings of Theravada Buddhism,
and is characterized by its emphasis on the ideal of the Bodhisattva.
B. Both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism believe in the concept of Karma, but only Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the
importance of compassion and bodhicitta.
C. Theravada Buddhism emphasizes the ideal of the Arhat, while Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the ideal of the Buddha-
nature.
D. d. Mahayana Buddhism didn’t response to the perceived shortcomings of Theravada Buddhism, particularly its emphasis on
individual liberation and neglect of the welfare of others.
37. What is the name of the Chinese philosopher who founded Confucianism?
A. Zhu Xi
B. Lao Tzu
C. Mencius
D. Confucius
38. What is the core value that Confucianism emphasizes in personal relationships?
A. Justice and Equality
B. Respect and Loyalty
C. Harmony and Balance
D. Compassion and Empathy
39. What is the concept in Confucianism that refers to the idea that people have a natural sense of morality and goodness?
A. The Tao
B. The Will of Heaven
C. Human Nature (Xing)
D. The Mandate of Heaven
40. What is the central concept of Taoism?
A. The belief in an afterlife
B. The notion of original sin
C. The concept of a personal god
D. The idea of balance and harmony with nature
41. What is the main goal of Taoist spiritual practices?
A. To achieve immortality
B. To gain material wealth and status
C. To achieve enlightenment or nirvana
D. To cultivate inner balance and harmony
42. Who is considered the founder of Taoism?
A. Laozi
B. Buddha
C. Zhuangzi
D. Confucius
43. What is a key concept in Taoist ethics?
A. The Golden Rule
B. The concept of karma
 C. The notion of original sin
D. The concept of non-action (wu-wei)
44. What is a central concept in Shintoism that emphasizes the importance of spiritual purification and the return to a state of purity?
A. Kami
B. Karma
C. Ahura Mazda
D. Reincarnation
45. What is a primary way in which Shintoism emphasizes the connection between the individual and the natural world?
A. Through the worship of a single, all-powerful deity.
B. Through the veneration of ancestors and the spirits of nature.
C. Through the pursuit of enlightenment and the attainment of nirvana.
D. Through the performance of rituals and ceremonies focused on material gain.
46. What is a key aspect of Shintoism's core teachings?
A. The concept of karma and reincarnation
B. The importance of ritual sacrifice and animal offerings
C. The idea that humans are inherently sinful and require salvation
D. The belief in the sacredness of all living things and the concept of kami
47. What is a practice in Shintoism that involves purifying oneself or an object through ritual cleansing?
A. Funeral rite (Sōsai)
B. Miko (shamanic ritual)
C. Purification ritual (Harae)
D. Shinto wedding ceremony
48. What is a unique aspect of Shintoism that distinguishes it from both Confucianism and Taoism?
A. Belief in an afterlife or reincarnation
B. Focus on rituals and worship of spirits (Kami)
C. Emphasis on self-cultivation and inner wisdom
D. Importance of social hierarchy and class structure
49. What is a key similarity between Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism that reflects their shared cultural heritage in East Asia?
A. Belief in a single, all-powerful deity
B. Emphasis on the importance of the afterlife
C. Practice of meditation and yoga as a means of spiritual growth
D. Focus on individual moral development and social responsibility
50. Which of the following is a unique characteristic of Shintoism that distinguishes it from Confucianism and Taoism?
A. E Worship of spirits and ancestor
B. Emphasis on personal moral development
C. Focus on the afterlife and reincarnation
D. Belief in a single, supreme deity

“Don’t worry because I am with you. Don’t be afraid because I am your God.
I will make you strong and will help you.