2017
Higher School Certificate
Trial Examination
Studies of Religion II
Total Marks – 100
Section I – Pages 2–11
30 marks
This section has two parts, Part A and Part B
 Allow about 50 minutes for this section
General Instructions
 Reading time – 5 minutes
 Working time – 3 hours
 Write using black pen
 Write your student number and/or
name at the top of every page
Part A – 15 marks
 Attempt Questions 1–11
Part B – 15 marks
 Attempt Questions 12–22
Section II – Pages 12–13
30 marks
 Attempt TWO questions from Questions 1–5
 You must NOT choose the same Religious
Tradition in both Section II and Section III
 Allow about 1 hour for this section
Section III – Page 14–15
20 marks
 Attempt ONE question from Questions 1–5.
 Allow about 35 minutes for this section
 You must NOT choose the same Religious
Tradition in both Section II and Section III
Section IV – Page 16
20 marks
 Attempt Question 1
 Allow about 35 minutes for this section
This paper MUST NOT be removed from the examination room
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Section I
30 marks
Allow about 50 minutes for this section
Part A – Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post–1945
15 marks
Allow about 25 minutes for this part
Attempt Questions 1–11
Use the multiple-choice answer sheet for Questions 1–10.
Select the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers the question and indicate your choice with a
cross (X) in the appropriate space on the grid below.
A
B
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Page 2
C
D
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
1
Communication between which of the following groups is an example of interfaith
dialogue?
(A) Sunni and Shia
(B)
Catholic and Anglican
(C)
Theravada and Mahayana
(D) Christian and Muslim
2
Which of the following is the purpose of ecumenical movements?
(A) Promote unity among all Christians
(B)
Promote dialogue and discussion between all religions
(C)
Generate peace and harmony within society
(D) Provide a way for all Christians to participate more fully in society
3
Which of the following is a fundamental principle of a secular society?
(A) Basing laws on religious texts
(B)
Basing education on religious texts
(C)
Promotion of Christian ideals
(D) Removing religious doctrine from governing the country
4
Statement 1: The percentage of Australians identifying as Christian is growing in
Australia.
Statement 2: The percentage of Christians identifying as Catholic is growing in
Australia.
Which of the following is true of the above statements?
(A) Both statements are true.
(B)
Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true.
(C)
Both statements are false.
(D) Statement 2 is false and Statement 1 is true.
Page 3
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
5
The co-existence of pastoral leases and native title is provided for by which of the
following?
(A) Wik decision 1996
(B)
Mabo decision 1992
(C)
Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
(D) Native Title Amendment Act 1998 (Cth)
6
Which of the following is most prone to fluctuations in adherence due to denominational
switching?
(A) Sunni
(B)
Eastern Orthodox
(C)
Buddhism
(D) Pentecostal
7
Which of the following is a principle of new age religions?
(A) Individual fulfilment
(B)
Communal worship
(C)
Music and ceremony
(D) Adherence to dogma
8
Rights to land, based on a traditional connection describes which of the following?
(A) Sovereignty
(B)
Self-determination
(C)
Native title
(D) Suffrage
Page 4
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
9
Ceremonies are a very important part of Aboriginal Culture.
What are they derived from?
(A) The sacred traditions about initiation
(B)
The Dreaming Spirits within sacred songs
(C)
The conservation and renewal of life through initiation
(D) Dreaming and its life giving powers
10
Which government policy helped to prevent non-Christian religions from growing in
Australia up to the 1970s?
(A) Assimilation policy
(B)
White Australia policy
(C)
Segregation policy
(D) Sectarianism policy
Page 5
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Section I (continued)
Attempt Question 11
Answer the question in the space provided. This space provides guidance for the expected length
of response.
Question 11 (5 marks)
Year
1947
2001
2011
Anglican
Catholic
Other
Christian
%
39.0
20.7
17.1
%
20.9
26.6
25.3
%
28.1
20.7
18.7
Total
Christian
%
88.0
68.0
61.1
Other
Non
Christian
Religions
%
0.5
4.9
6.2
No
Religion
Not stated/
inadequately
described
%
0.3
15.5
22.3
%
11.1
11.7
10.4
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
The number of people reporting “no religion” in Australia has risen in the past 100 years
from one in 250 people to one in five. In 1911, 10,000 people (0.4 per cent) chose “no
religion”.
Source: news.com.au June 6, 2016, 7:52PM
Referring to the above data, account for the current religious landscape of Australia.
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Page 6
5
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Section I (continued)
Part B – Religion and Non-Religion
15 marks
Allow about 25 minutes for this part
Attempt Questions 12–21
Use the multiple-choice answer sheet for Questions 12–21.
Select the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers the question and indicate your choice with a
cross (X) in the appropriate space on the grid below.
A
B
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Page 7
C
D
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
12
Polytheism is characterised by which of the following?
(A) The belief in creator god/s
(B)
The belief in more than one god
(C)
The belief in the God of Abraham
(D) Disbelief in God
13
Attributing the eruption of a volcano to an angry spirit is an example of what type of
belief?
(A) Supernaturalism
(B)
Animism
(C)
Paganism
(D) Monotheism
14
Non- religious worldviews emphasise which of the following?
(A)
That religious expression should be regulated by the state
(B)
God/ gods are the creators of the world
(C)
That individuals have a responsibility to improve society
(D) The importance of living well in this life in order to live well in the next life.
15
Which of the following has the least number of adherents globally?
(A) Christianity
(B)
Islam
(C)
Buddhism
(D) Hinduism
16
Which of the following best describes atheism?
(A) A belief system based around scientific reason
(B)
A belief system based around the denial of the existence of god
(C)
An assertion that god does not exist
(D) An assertion that god cannot be proven to exist or not
Page 8
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
17
Pascal’s Wager is an argument for believing in God. It goes as follows:
God may or may not exist.
If I believe in God and he does not exist I stand to lose very little.
If I don’t believe in God and he does exist I stand to lose a great deal.
It is therefore prudent to believe in God.
The argument above is based on which of the following?
(A) Atheism
(B)
Agnosticism
(C)
Immanence
(D) Polytheism
18
Statement 1: Our humanness allows us to lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of adding
to the greater good of humanity.
Statement 2: Our philosophy is informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by
compassion.
For a humanist, which of the following is correct regarding the above statements?
(A) Both statements are true.
(B)
Statement 1 is true; Statement 2 is false.
(C)
Statement 1 is false; Statement 2 is true.
(D) Both statements are false.
19
The existence of a divine realm beyond the physical realm is best described by which
term?
(A) Transcendence
(B)
Immanence
(C)
Monotheism
(D) Animism
Page 9
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
20
Which term gives no information regarding the collective moral and social values of
group?
(A) Humanist
(B)
Christian
(C)
Atheist
(D) Muslim
21
According to the 2011 census, what percentage of Australians identify as Jews?
(A) 15%
(B)
10%
(C)
1.3%
(D) Less than 1%
Page 10
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Section I (continued)
Attempt Question 22
Answer the question in the space provided. This space provides guidance for the expected length
of response.
Question 22 (5 marks)
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Carl Sagan
To take another illustration: nobody can prove that there is not between the Earth and Mars
a china teapot revolving in an elliptical orbit, but nobody thinks this sufficiently likely to be
taken into account in practice. I think the Christian God just as unlikely.
Bertrand Russel
Referring to the above quotes, outline the positions of atheists and agnostics.
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Page 11
5
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Section II – Religious Tradition Depth Study
30 marks
Attempt TWO questions from Questions 1–5
Allow about 1 hour for this section
You must NOT choose the same Religious Tradition in both Section II and Section III.
Answer the question on your own paper or writing booklet, if provided.
Question 1 – Buddhism (15 marks)
(a)
(b)
Marks
(i)
Describe a significant practice within Buddhism.
3
(ii)
Discuss the importance of the practice in expressing the beliefs of Buddhism.
5
Right view is necessary for right conduct.
Referring to the above, discuss how Buddhism informs the ethical conduct of a
Buddhist in ONE of the following areas:
 Bioethics
 Environmental ethics
 Sexual ethics
7
Question 2 – Christianity (15 marks)
(a)
(b)
(i)
Describe a significant practice within Christianity.
3
(ii)
Discuss the importance of the practice in expressing the beliefs of Christianity.
5
The great commandment and the golden rule provide the framework for morality and
ethics.
Referring to the above, discuss how Christianity informs the ethical conduct of a
Christian in ONE of the following areas:
 Bioethics
 Environmental ethics
 Sexual ethics
7
Page 12
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Question 3 – Hinduism (15 marks)
(a)
(b)
Marks
(i)
Describe a significant practice within Hinduism.
3
(ii)
Discuss the importance of the practice in expressing the beliefs of Hinduism.
5
Ethics and morality form an essential part of the concept of Dharma.
Referring to the above, discuss how Hinduism informs the ethical conduct of a Hindu in
ONE of the following areas:
 Bioethics
 Environmental ethics
 Sexual ethics
7
Question 4 – Islam (15 marks)
(a)
(b)
(i)
Describe a significant practice within Islam.
3
(ii)
Discuss the importance of the practice in expressing the beliefs of Islam.
5
Active submission to Allah provides the basis for all ethical teachings.
Referring to the above, discuss how Islam informs the ethical conduct of a Muslim in
ONE of the following areas.
 Bioethics
 Environmental ethics
 Sexual ethics
7
Question 5 – Judaism (15 marks)
(a)
(b)
(i)
Describe a significant practice within Judaism.
3
(ii)
Discuss the importance of the practice in expressing the beliefs of Judaism.
5
The ethics of the fathers and the Torah provide the basis for ethical conduct.
Referring to the above, discuss how Judaism informs the ethical conduct of a Jew in
ONE of the following areas:
 Bioethics
 Environmental ethics
 Sexual ethics
7
Page 13
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Section III – Religious Tradition Depth Study
20 marks
Attempt ONE from Questions 1–5.
Choose a DIFFERENT Religious Tradition from the two you chose in Section II.
Allow about 35 minutes for this section
Answer the question on a SEPARATE page of your own paper or new writing booklet, if
provided.
The expected length of response is approximately 800 words or six written pages.
In your answer you will be assessed on how well you:
 demonstrate knowledge and understanding relevant to the question
 incorporate significant aspects of religion to illustrate your answer
 communicate using language and terminology appropriate to the study of religion
 present ideas clearly in a cohesive response
Question 1 – Buddhism (20 marks)
Analyse the significance of ONE practice for both the individual and the Buddhist community
(Wesak)
Question 2 – Christianity (20 marks)
Significant ideas have contributed to the way Christianity is practiced today.
Discuss how ONE person or school of thought has contributed to Christianity.
Question 3 – Hinduism (20 marks)
Significant ideas have contributed to the way Hinduism is practiced today.
Discuss how ONE person or school of thought has contributed to Hinduism.
Page 14
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Question 4 – Islam (20 marks)
Analyse the significance of ONE practice for both the individual and the Muslim community
(Hajj)
Question 5 – Judaism (20 marks)
Significant ideas have contributed to the way Judaism is practiced today.
Discuss how ONE person or school of thought has contributed to Judaism.
Page 15
STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..
Section IV – Religious and Peace
20 marks
Attempt Question 1
Allow about 35 minutes for this section
Answer the question on a SEPARATE page of your own paper or new writing booklet, if
provided.
The expected length of response is approximately 800 words or six written pages.
In your answer you will be assessed on how well you:
 demonstrate knowledge and understanding relevant to the question
 incorporate significant aspects of religion to illustrate your answer
 communicate using language and terminology appropriate to the study of religion
 present ideas clearly in a cohesive response
Question 1 (20 marks)
Religion provides a road map to inner peace.
With reference to the above statement, analyse how TWO Religious Traditions guide adherents
in achieving inner peace.
End of paper
Page 16