Part I: Comparing Characteristics of Hinduism and Buddhism
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question 1 by matching the characteristics in the left panel with the religion in the right panel.
Question 1
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Question 2
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Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
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Question 7
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Question 8
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Question 9
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Question 10
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Question 11
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Question 12
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A ruler is faced with a high crime rate. He decides to implement a new policy that imposes harsh punishments, such as public shaming and forced labor, for even minor offenses like littering. He justifies his actions by saying that this will serve as a strong deterrent and make the people fearful of breaking the law.
Which philosophy is the ruler most likely following?
Buddhism
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
An emperor is struggling to maintain order in his vast empire. He decides to appoint officials to various positions throughout the land. He chooses his officials based on their moral character and knowledge of traditional rites and texts.
Which philosophical school of thought is the emperor most likely following?
Buddhism
Legalism
Daoism
Confucianism
A village experiences a terrible drought. The local magistrate calls upon the people to work together to dig a well, believing that collective action and proper planning are the keys to overcoming the problem.
What philosophical school of thought would be most critical of the magistrate's actions?
Legalism
Confucianism
Daoism
Buddhism
A village elder notices that the younger generations are not showing proper respect to their parents and ancestors. To correct this, he holds regular community meetings where he teaches the younger people about the importance of family duties and reverence for elders.
Which core Confucian principle is he attempting to instill?
filial piety
propriety
non-action
benevolence
A wise man lives in a small hut by a river, spending his days observing the flow of the water and the growth of the trees. When a villager asks him for advice on how to live a good life, he tells them to stop trying to force things to happen and to simply go with the flow of events.
What philosophy is the wise man teaching?
Buddhism
Daoism
Legalism
Confucianism
In a struggling kingdom, a powerful official proposes a new governmental structure where all positions are filled based on a person’s contributions to the state, such as military service or agricultural output, rather than on their aristocratic lineage. The official believes this will create a more efficient and powerful state.
Which philosophical school of thought is the official's proposal rooted in?
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Buddhism
A family has a dispute over who should inherit the family farm. The eldest son insists that the farm belongs to him, while his younger sister argues that they should divide the land equally.
How would a follower of Confucianism likely view this situation?
The dispute should be settled by letting nature take its course, as the family’s destiny is beyond human control.
The family should consult a legal code to determine the proper distribution of property.
The land should be divided equally to ensure harmony and fairness among siblings, in accordance with the principle of benevolence.
The elder brother's claim is justified due to the principle of filial piety and the importance of respecting the family hierarchy.
An ambitious young noble asks a Legalist scholar for advice on how to gain power in the court.
What advice would the scholar most likely give?
Lead a simple and humble life, letting the natural flow of events guide your path to power.
Form alliances with other powerful families and ensure your family lineage is respected.
Master the laws and administrative techniques of the state to ensure a position of authority and control over others.
Study the traditional texts and cultivate virtues like *rén* and *lǐ* to win the favor of the ruler.
A government official is a practitioner of Daoism.
How would he most likely govern the people?
By promoting military strength and agricultural output to build a powerful state.
By implementing strict laws and punishments to maintain order.
By leading through moral example and promoting education.
By ruling with minimal interference and allowing the people to live spontaneously.
According to Daoist philosophy, what is the best way for a person to find fulfillment and live a happy life?
By cultivating moral virtues and performing good deeds for the community.
By following a rigid set of laws and rules to ensure proper behavior.
By striving to achieve wealth, fame, and a position of power in society.
By withdrawing from social conventions and living a simple life in harmony with nature.
A father learns that his son has been cheating on his exams. Instead of immediately punishing him, he sits the son down to discuss his actions, explaining how they harm his own character and disrespect his teachers and ancestors. The father believes that teaching moral virtue is the most effective way to correct the son's behavior and ensure he lives honorably.
This approach is most aligned with which Confucian principle?
The Daoist principle of non-action, which would suggest letting the son's destiny unfold.
The belief that social harmony is less important than individual freedom.
The Confucian principle that benevolence and filial piety require a focus on education and moral example over strict punishment.
The Legalist principle that humans are inherently selfish and must be punished to learn.
An emperor wants to build a great wall to protect his kingdom. He decrees that anyone who fails to contribute a mandatory amount of labor will be executed. In contrast, anyone who exceeds their quota of labor will receive a large plot of land.
This system of clear laws, rewards, and punishments is a direct application of which philosophy?
The Legalist belief that strict laws and harsh punishments are the only way to compel people to serve the state.
The Confucian belief that a ruler should lead by moral example and inspire people to work.
The Daoist belief that humans should not interfere with the natural course of events.
The Mohist belief that people should be motivated by universal love and impartiality.