Ethical and Moral Teachings

17 Grade 10 Religious Education (HRE) questions on Ethical and Moral Teachings, with worked marking schemes. 17 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   4 marks

   Explain two reasons why it is important for young people who have learnt the ethical teachings of the scriptures to influence their peers to live ethical and moral lives. (4 marks)

   (4 marks)

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2. Question 2

   3 marks

   State how a Jain Grade 10 learner can practise each of the following vows in daily school life:

   (a) Ahimsa (1 mark)

   (b) Satya (1 mark)

   (c) Aparigraha (1 mark)

   (3 marks)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   On the battlefield of Kurukshetra in the Mahabharat, Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita to act without attachment to the fruits of his actions (nishkama karma). Which behaviour best reflects this teaching?

   A. Doing one's duty without craving rewards

   B. Giving up all work to live in the forest

   C. Avoiding duty whenever it brings hardship

   D. Performing rituals to gain wealth and fame

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   4 marks

   Outline four reasons given in the Vinaya Pitaka for the Buddha laying down rules of discipline for the Sangha. (4 marks)

   (4 marks)

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5. Question 5

   8 marks

   Identify four risky road behaviours common among teenagers in Kenya. For each behaviour, state an ethical teaching from the scriptures of the Sanatan, Jain, Buddhist or Sikh faith that discourages it. (8 marks)

   (8 marks)

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   Any four behaviours, 2 marks each (behaviour 1 mark, matching scriptural teaching 1 mark) (8 marks). Examples: - Riding or driving after taking alcohol or drugs: the Buddhist fifth precept to refrain from intoxicants; the Sikh teaching against intoxicants; the Jain avoidance of intoxicants. - Overspeeding or racing on motorbikes and boda bodas: ahimsa (Jain and Sanatan) requires avoiding harm to oneself and others; the Buddhist first precept forbids harming living beings. - Road rage, fighting or insulting other road users: avoiding krodh (anger) in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji; patience and self-control taught in the Bhagavad Gita. - Riding without a helmet or not wearing a seat belt: the body is precious and life must be protected (ahimsa extends to oneself); responsibility to one's family (dharma). - Using a mobile phone or earphones while crossing the road or riding: mindfulness (right mindfulness in the Noble Eightfold Path). - Overloading a boda boda with several passengers or riding without a licence: honesty and obeying rules (satya, dharma); taking only what is rightfully allowed. - Showing off or dangerous stunts to impress friends: avoiding ahankar (pride) and practising nimrata (humility). - Crossing outside zebra crossings or ignoring traffic lights: respecting rules and duty (dharma), and the Vinaya's lesson that rules protect the community. (Credit any accurate pairing; the teaching must reasonably discourage the behaviour named.)

6. Question 6

   1 mark

   In the Ramayan, Bharata refuses to sit on the throne of Ayodhya while Rama is in exile. Instead, he places Rama's sandals (paduka) on the throne and rules only on Rama's behalf. Which moral teaching does Bharata's action best illustrate?

   A. Courage in battle against powerful enemies

   B. Devotion shown through service to the gods

   C. Loyalty and refusal to grab power unjustly

   D. Obedience to a parent's command at any cost

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   6 marks

   In the Mahabharat, Yudhishthira loses his kingdom, his brothers, himself and Draupadi to the Kauravas in a game of dice played with Shakuni. Explain three moral lessons that young people can learn from this episode. (6 marks)

   (6 marks)

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8. Question 8

   3 marks

   Outline how each of the following teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, found in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, guides the conduct of a Sikh youth:

   (a) Naam Japna (1 mark)

   (b) Kirat Karni (1 mark)

   (c) Vand Chakna (1 mark)

   (3 marks)

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9. Question 9

   1 mark

   At the end of Paryushan, when the Kalpasutra has been read, Jains greet relatives, friends and even strangers with the words 'Micchami Dukkadam'. Which ethical value does this greeting mainly express?

   A. Sharing food with the needy

   B. Honouring the twenty-four Tirthankaras

   C. Fasting to purify the body

   D. Seeking and granting forgiveness

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    4 marks

    Members of an inter-faith club in a Mombasa secondary school want to advocate the values shared by the Sanatan, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh faiths. Outline four ways in which they can do this. (4 marks)

    (4 marks)

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11. Question 11

    4 marks

    Compare the Jain teaching of ahimsa with the first Buddhist precept of refraining from harming living beings. State two similarities and two differences. (4 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any two similarities, 1 mark each (2 marks): - Both forbid harming or killing living beings. - Both are rooted in compassion for all life. - Both are supported by wider teachings on controlling harmful thoughts and words, not only physical acts. - Both form the first and most basic rule of moral conduct in their faith. - Both encourage peaceful resolution of conflict. Any two differences, 1 mark each (2 marks): - Jain ahimsa is stricter and extends to the tiniest beings, e.g. monks sweep the path, cover the mouth (muhpatti) and filter water; Buddhist practice is less strict about tiny creatures. - Jain monks take ahimsa as an absolute great vow (mahavrata); in Buddhism the precept is a training rule undertaken voluntarily by monks and lay people alike. - Jains are strictly vegetarian and many avoid root vegetables; many Buddhists, e.g. Theravada monks, may eat meat offered as alms if the animal was not killed for them. - Buddhism judges the act mainly by intention (cetana), so purely accidental harm does not break the precept; Jainism also counts harm caused through carelessness (pramada), which is why Jains take great care in every daily activity.

12. Question 12

    1 mark

    A Buddhist youth in Nairobi turns down an alcoholic drink at a party because he has to ride his motorbike home. Which of the Five Precepts (Pancasila) is he most directly observing?

    A. Refraining from intoxicants

    B. Refraining from stealing

    C. Refraining from killing

    D. Refraining from false speech

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    6 marks

    Priya discovers that her close friend Ravi has been copying assignments from the internet and submitting them as his own work. Ravi begs her to keep quiet.

    (a) Explain two teachings, each from a different one of the four faiths, that should guide Priya in this situation. (4 marks)

    (b) Outline two responsible actions Priya should take. (2 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Any two teachings from two different faiths, 2 marks each (teaching 1 mark, application to the dilemma 1 mark) (4 marks): - Sanatan: satya (truthfulness) and dharma; Yudhishthira's reputation for truthfulness shows that hiding dishonesty is wrong, so Priya should not help cover up the copying. - Jain: satya and asteya (non-stealing); presenting someone else's work as one's own is a form of stealing and lying. - Buddhist: the second precept (not taking what is not given) and right speech; copying takes others' work, and lying about it breaks right speech. - Sikh: kirat karni (honest effort) and sach (truth); success must come from honest work, so Priya should encourage Ravi to do his own work. - Compassion (Buddhist karuna, Sikh daya): Priya should correct Ravi kindly and help him, not shame or expose him harshly. (b) Any two of the following, 1 mark each (2 marks): - Talk to Ravi privately and advise him to stop copying and do his own work. - Offer to study or revise with him so that he can manage the assignments. - Encourage him to confess to the teacher himself. - If he continues, report the matter to the class teacher or a guidance and counselling teacher. - Refuse to lie on his behalf if asked by the teacher.

14. Question 14

    4 marks

    Explain two ways in which the langar of the gurdwara, where everyone sits together to share a free meal, promotes social harmony in a Kenyan community. (4 marks)

    (4 marks)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    The Jain teaching of anekantavada (many-sidedness of reality) can help learners of different faiths live together peacefully mainly by

    A. Insisting that only one faith holds the truth

    B. Treating every opinion as equally mistaken

    C. Avoiding close contact with other faiths

    D. Accepting others may see part of the truth

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    6 marks

    (a) Outline two ethical teachings from Rama's acceptance of fourteen years of exile in the Ramayan. (2 marks)

    (b) Explain how the conduct of Ravana in the Ramayan teaches the consequences of vices. (4 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Any two of the following, 1 mark each (2 marks): - Obedience to and respect for parents: Rama obeyed his father, King Dasharatha, so that he would keep his promise to Queen Kaikeyi. - Keeping one's word: Rama upheld his father's promise even at great personal cost. - Putting duty (dharma) above personal comfort and power: he gave up the throne willingly. - Acceptance without bitterness: he did not hold a grudge against Kaikeyi or Bharata. - Self-sacrifice and humility: he lived simply in the forest. (b) Any two vices, 2 marks each (vice/conduct 1 mark, consequence 1 mark) (4 marks): - Lust and desire: Ravana abducted Sita, another man's wife, which led to war with Rama and Ravana's own death. - Pride and arrogance (ahankar): he believed no one could defeat him and ignored warnings, which led to the destruction of Lanka. - Refusing good counsel: he rejected the advice of his brother Vibhishana and his wife Mandodari to return Sita, so Vibhishana joined Rama. - Anger: he insulted Vibhishana and ordered Hanuman's tail to be set on fire, which ended with Lanka being burnt. - Selfishness: his actions caused the deaths of his own family, including Kumbhakarna and his son Indrajit (Meghnad). (Overall lesson: evil conduct, however powerful, ends in downfall; good triumphs over evil, as celebrated at Dussehra.)

17. Question 17

    1 mark

    The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji warns against five vices that lead people away from God. The vice called lobh refers to

    A. Lust

    B. Anger

    C. Greed

    D. Attachment

    (1 mark)

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