Practice Questions

for D. Palmer's Visions of Human Nature

Instructions: The following practice questions are designed for "instant gratification." As soon as you enter an answer you will receive the results of your test. If you take the quiz with an open book and most of your answers are correct, try taking the quiz again with the book closed in an hour or so. On the other hand, if you did not do well, spend some more time with the book and then do the entire quiz again with an open book. Complete the exercise before the chapter is discussed in class (see the schedule of readings), so that when we meet together you'll have control over the information and concepts presented in the chapter. Important: Don't forget to click the "REPORT" button at the bottom of this page when you have finished taking the test.

Chapter 3- The Buddhist Vision of Human Nature

1. The fundamental principle which underlies Buddhist ethics is:  
(a) the principle of perfect reciprocity
(b) the principle of distributive justice
(c) the principle of compassionate non-action
(d) the principle of non-injury to all life
(e) none of the above
2. Calm meditation (samadhi) differs from insightful meditation (vipassana) insofar as
(a) it intones the sacred/primodial sound "ohm"
(b) it focuses on a single point of awareness and seeks to fix the mind steadily upon that point
(c) It only reduces the object of awareness to its mere image, while insightful meditation dissolves the distinction between subject and object
(d) it is a technique which requires strict control over the breath, while insightful meditation requires no such control
(e) b & c
3. The principal aim of the Buddha's teaching is
(a) the alleviation of suffering
(b) transcendental knowledge of metaphysical truth
(c) attainment of the noble principle of perfect equity
(d) certain ecstatic, exalted mystical states
(e) all of the above
4. According to the teachings of the Buddha, what perpetuates the cycle of death and rebirth is:
(a) desire and the attachments which follow from desire
(b) the will of the gods
(c) ignorance of one's own essential divinity
(d) the indestructibility of the soul
(e) c & d
5. According to the author, what make it difficult to conceive a Buddhist ethics are followings except
(a) the centrality of meditative practices
(b) its doctrine of non-self
(c) Buddhist monks' escape from society
(d) the complete lack of moral language in Buddhism literature
(e) all of the above
6. Which of the following is not true about the Zen and Chan Buddhism?
(a) It has great influence on art, poetry, social ceremony and the art of war.
(b) It puts great emphasis on the sudden enlightenment of the Buddha.
(c) It incorporates magic beliefs and practices that probably went back to pre-Hindu Dravidian times.
(d) It despises the heavy scholarly work.
(e) none of the above
7. "Buddha" literally means
"one who has attained Nirvana."
"the most compassionate"
"the anointed one"
"the enlightened one"
 none of the above
8. The highest moral virtue in Buddhism is _____.
justice
compassion
temperance
wisdom
none of the above
9. which of the followings is (are) not Buddhism's Noble Eight Path?
right outlook
right speech
right effort
right self-transcendence
none of the above
10. Tantric Buddhism differs from the earlier Buddhism insofar as:
it relies heavily on esoteric knowledge
it pays little attention to holy manuscripts
it demands an absolute obedience to one's religous master
it incorporates many magic beliefs and practices
all of the above
11. Buddhism insists that the Self (atman) is just an artificial construct.
True
False
12. Unlike Christians, Buddhists generally regard the realms of Hell as being places of temporary punishment for those who are there.
True
False
13. According to the author, Buddhist ethics is an altruistic ethics.
True
False
14. According to the author, Hinayana Buddhism is doctrinally closest to the Buddha's original intentions.
True
False
15. Buddhist teachings often aim at dissolving the boundaries between oneself and others.
True
False

Here are some short answer questions you might also consider.

16. What is Nirvana?

17. What is Karma?

18. What are four noble truths?

19. What are major differences between Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism?

20. What are major moral recommendations made by Buddhism?

When you have finished the quiz, click the "Report" button (below) to send a progess report to the instructor.

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