Ch. 14 Learning About World Religions: Hinduism

The Vedic religion are named for the Vedas, which are

• a collection of sacred texts

• a group of people from Europe

• the three most important deities

• the temples where rituals were performed

Which of these is the best reason for someone in India to study Sanskrit?

• to read the ancient texts

• to understand road signs

• to run of political office

• to talk to ordinary people

In the caste system, how were the people in India placed into a certain social class?

• by skill

• by birth

• by wealth

• by education

Why did the Untouchables live in separate communities?

• They wanted to stay pure

• They shared all their goods

• They had to eat a special diet

• They were considered unclean

To Hindus, the soul, or atman, is part of

• Shiva

• the sun

• Brahman

• the ocean

In some Hindu traditions, Brahma is the creator and Vishnu is the preserver. What does Shiva do?

• teach

• perfect

• enlarge

• destroy

The festival of Divali, which beings the Hindu New Year, celebrates

• the changing of the seasons

• the victory of good over evil

• the food from a good harvest

• the long life of the wise elders

Which job would a Shudra most likely do?

• create jewelry or weapons

• interpret religious law

• hold a government post

• plowing the fields

What is the Hindu symbol for the belief of the reverence of life?

• the cow

• the sheep

• the pig

• the horse

The Hindu belief about karma is related to the caste system because people are in the caste based on how the lived in their past lives.

• true

• false