SAT II World History : World Religions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II World History

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Buddhism And Confucianism

Siddhartha Gautama __________.

Possible Answers:

established the first extensive trading system between the Middle East and India

fought against the Emperor Asoka 

was defeated by Alexander the Great in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

settled the island of Sri Lanka

is credited with founding modern Buddhism 

Correct answer:

is credited with founding modern Buddhism 

Explanation:

Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha Gautama, or just the Buddha, was a spiritual and somewhat legendary figure on whose teachings the religion of Buddhism was founded. Siddhartha preached a Middle Way between sensory indulgence and the harsh asceticism common in the religions of the time; in doing so, he founded modern Buddhism.

Example Question #4 : Buddhism And Confucianism

Confucianism developed __________.

Possible Answers:

None of the answers are correct.

out of the belief that good (light) and evil (dark) were fighting throughout history

after the prophet Confucius began receiving messages from God 

as a way to limit bureaucracy within China

as a response to the political turmoil under the Zhou dynasty

Correct answer:

as a response to the political turmoil under the Zhou dynasty

Explanation:

Although Confucian values were part of a Chinese bureaucrat's training, it wasn't developed to limit bureaucracy. It was, however, a response to the political turmoil of the Zhou dynasty that Confucius lived through. 

Confucius was a philosopher, not a prophet, and the battle between good and evil has more in common with Manichaeism than with Confucianism.

Example Question #1 : Ancient Religions And Paganism

Which of the following religions is the earliest monotheistic religion of the presented options?

Possible Answers:

Christianity 

Hinduism 

Islam 

Eastern Orthodoxy 

Zoroastrianism

Correct answer:

Zoroastrianism

Explanation:

Monotheistic religions are differentiated from polytheistic religions in that monotheistic religions believe in only one deity while polytheistic religions believe in many. Examples of monotheistic religions are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, whereas examples of polytheistic religions are Hinduism, Paganism, and Roman, Egyptian, and Greek mythologies. 

Zoroastrianism arose in the eastern region of the ancient Persian Empire in about the seventh century BCE. It involves two opposing forces of good and evil and one god. Zoroastrianism is generally considered by historians to be the first monotheistic religion in human history and a great influencing factor in the development of Judaism and, later, Christianity and Islam. Today, somewhere between five hundred thousand and three million people identify as Zoroastrians.

Example Question #32 : World Religions

Which of these religions most heavily emphasizes oneness with nature? 

Possible Answers:

Judaism

Daoism

Deism

Confucianism

Hinduism

Correct answer:

Daoism

Explanation:

Daoism is an ancient religion founded approximately in the fourth century BCE. Its principle tenets are the belief in yin and yang and the balance of the universe. In Daoism, oneness with nature is very important.

Example Question #2 : Ancient Religions And Paganism

Which of the following is an early monotheistic religion that arose in the Persian Empire approximately in the seventh century BCE?

Possible Answers:

Zoroastrianism

Islam

Jainism

Buddhism

Sikhism

Correct answer:

Zoroastrianism

Explanation:

Zoroastrianism arose in the Persian Empire in roughly the seventh century BCE. Along with Judaism, it is one of the earliest known monotheistic religions. Its influence has waned significantly in the last thousand years, but it is still practiced by over 100,000 people worldwide.

Example Question #3 : Ancient Religions And Paganism

Zarathustra is the founder of which ancient religion? 

Possible Answers:

Arianism

Gnosticism

Shinto

Zoroastrianism

Daoism

Correct answer:

Zoroastrianism

Explanation:

Zarathustra, also called Zoroaster, is the founder of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is often considered to be the earliest known monotheistic religion, predating Judaism, although academic consensus on this has not yet been reached. 

Example Question #4 : Ancient Religions And Paganism

The Ancient Indian religion of Jainism is centered around the principles of __________

Possible Answers:

abstinence and self-sacrifice 

obedience and hard work 

meditation and filial piety 

good works and good faith 

nonviolence and self-control

Correct answer:

nonviolence and self-control

Explanation:

Jainism is an Ancient Indian religion that arose in approximately the seventh century B.C.E. It still is influential today, although there are relatively few practicioners outside of India. The central tenets of Jainism are nonviolence and self-control. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors