RELIGION STUDIES
PAPER 1
GRADE 12 
NSC EXAMS
PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS NOVEMBER 2018

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION 

  1. This question paper consists of SECTION A and SECTION B.
  2. SECTION A: COMPULSORY
    SECTION B: Answer any TWO questions in this section. 
  3. Read ALL the questions carefully.
  4. Start EACH question on a NEW page. 
  5. The length of your answers must be in accordance with the marks allocated to  each question. 
  6. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this  question paper. 
  7. Write neatly and legibly.

QUESTIONS 

SECTION A (COMPULSORY) 
QUESTION 1  
1.1 Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions.  Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question  numbers (1.1.1 to 1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.1.11 D. 
1.1.1 The Tao Te Ching was written by … 

  1. Chuang Tzu. 
  2. Yang. 
  3. Lao Tzu. 
  4. Confucius. (1) 

1.1.2 In the African Traditional Religion this person may throw bones in  the performance of certain rituals: 

  1. Induna 
  2. Chief 
  3. Sangoma/Isangoma 
  4. Intlabi (1) 

1.1.3 The oldest branch of Buddhism is … 

  1. Theravada Buddhism. 
  2. Zen Buddhism.
  3. Mahayana Buddhism. 
  4. Tibetan Buddhism. (1) 

1.1.4 The great Hindu sage, Krishna Dwipayana, compiled these sacred  books: 

  1. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas and the Mahabharata
  2. Ecclesiastes and the Apocalypse
  3. The Pali Canon and the Tripitaka 
  4. The Rig-Veda and the Samaveda (1) 

1.1.5 Holding on to traditional, conventional values: 

  1. Conservatism
  2. Secularism
  3. Confucianism
  4. Heresy (1)

1.1.6 The Tenach in Judaism corresponds with this part of the Christian  Bible: 

  1. The New Testament 
  2. The Pentateuch 
  3. The Acts of the Apostles 
  4. The Old Testament (1) 

1.1.7 A spiritual exercise to attain moksha, which includes breath control  and specific body postures: 

  1. Mysticism 
  2. Meditation 
  3. Mantra 
  4. Yoga (1) 

1.1.8 Every person in the universe controls his/her own destiny and is  not controlled by any other person or any superior being, like a  god. This is a teaching of … 

  1. the African Traditional Religion. 
  2. Hinduism. 
  3. Buddhism. 
  4. the Bahá'i faith. (1) 

Related Items

1.1.9 A declaration of the Parliament of the World's Religions adopted  in 1993: 

  1. The Charter for Compassion 
  2. Towards a Global Ethic 
  3. Millennium Development Goals 
  4. The Freedom Charter (1) 

1.1.10 Two leaders of the Bahá'i faith were … 

  1. Abdu'l-Baha and Bahá'u'lláh. 
  2. Abdu'l-Baha and Abu Bakr. 
  3. Bahá'u'lláh and Hermann Zimmer. 
  4. Bahá'u'lláh and Maimonides. (1)

1.2 Choose the word in each list below that does NOT match the rest. Write down  the word next to the question numbers (1.2.1 to 1.2.5) in the ANSWER BOOK  and give a reason why it does NOT fit. 
EXAMPLE: Banana; Apple; Potato; Grape 
ANSWER: 1.2.6 Potato. The others are all fruit. 
1.2.1 Roman Catholic; Baptist; Presbyterian; Methodist (2)
1.2.2 Fatwa; Shahada; Ilima; Wudu (2)
1.2.3 Psalms; Myths; Parables; Legends (2)
1.2.4 Copernicus; Darwin; Galileo; Kepler (2)
1.2.5 Imam; Dominee; Rabbi; Martyr (2) 
1.3 Choose an item from COLUMN B that matches the description in COLUMN A.  Write only the letter (A–H) next to the question numbers (1.3.1 to 1.3.6) in the  ANSWER BOOK. Do NOT use any letter more than ONCE. 

COLUMN A 

COLUMN B

1.3.1 On this mountain the Ten  Commandments were given to Moses 
1.3.2 This form of Christianity has its  origin in Africa 
1.3.3 Family members who have died and joined the spirit world 
1.3.4 The Dalai Lama, leader of Tibetan  Buddhism 
1.3.5 The Roman Catholic Church  established this law court in Spain to guard against heresy in the 15th century 
1.3.6 All religions are paths towards the  truth and are equally valid

  1. ancestors 
  2. Tenzin Gyatso 
  3. Inquisition 
  4. pluralism 
  5. atheism 
  6. Sinai 
  7. African Traditional
  8. Religion 
  9. African Initiated Churches

(6 x 1) (6)

1.4 Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE. Write 'true' or  'false' next to the question numbers (1.4.1 to 1.4.6) in the ANSWER BOOK.  Correct the statement if it is FALSE. 
1.4.1 Martin Luther King started the Reformation. (2) 
1.4.2 The Archbishop of Canterbury is the hereditary head of the  Anglican Church. (2) 
1.4.3 Mixing elements of one religion with elements of another to form a  new religion, is called fundamentalism. (2) 
1.4.4 The Bahá'i faith is a clan-based religion. (2)
1.4.5 Conservative Judaism is the oldest subdivision of Judaism. (2) 
1.4.6 Compassion is a religious observance intended to remind of  a sacred occasion. (2) 
1.5 Complete the following sentences by filling in the missing word. Write only  the word next to the question numbers (1.5.1 to 1.5.6) in the ANSWER  BOOK. 
1.5.1 The Crusades of the Middle Ages were religious wars fought  between the Muslims and the … (2) 
1.5.2 The followers of Hinduism call their divinity … (2) 
1.5.3 In the 4th century, Christianity became the official religion of the  Roman Empire under Emperor … (2) 
1.5.4 A statement about how something is observed to be in a religion, is  called a descriptive statement, but a statement about how  something ought to be, is called a … statement. (2) 
1.5.5 According to Taoism, the 'ten thousand things' are produced by the  Three and the Three are produced by the Two. The Two are the …  and … (2)
1.5.6 The primary source of the Sharia is the holy scripture called the … (2)

TOTAL SECTION A: 50

SECTION B 
Answer any TWO questions in this section. 
QUESTION 2 
2.1 Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow. 

PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS 

The first session Parliament of the World's Religions was held in Chicago in  1893 with the aim of creating a global dialogue of faiths. Since that event,  there have been several further Parliament session. 

[Source: Shuters Top Class Religion Studies Grade 12]

2.1.1 What are THREE positive outcomes of the first Parliament of the  World's Religions? (6) 
2.1.2 In TWO sentences, explain the phrase 'global dialogue of faiths'. (4) 
2.1.3 How is the parliament of a country different from the Parliament of  the World's Religions? (6) 
2.1.4 The Parliament of the World's Religions is but one interreligious  organisation. Name ONE other interreligious organisation and  discuss its successes and failures. (12) 
2.1.5 The Parliament of the World's Religions was held in Cape Town in  1999. Give THREE reasons why Cape Town was chosen. (6) 
2.2 Explain the relationship between religious teaching and religious belief. (4)
2.3 State TWO differences between doctrine and dogma. (4)
2.4 Explain the following in the context of religion: 
2.4.1 Uniqueness (2)
2.4.2 Unity (2)
2.5 Give ONE example of the following: 
2.5.1 Unity within a religion (2) 
2.5.2 Unity between different religions (2) [50]

QUESTION 3 
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow. 

RELIGION AND MEDIA 

In several studies of religious coverage in the media the main conclusions were the  following: 

  1. Coverage had increased significantly over the last decade but was very  negative.
  2. Towards orthodox faiths, the tone is mostly hostile, but towards minority  religions, it is favourable.
  3. The people interviewed most often are those who question orthodox religions.
  4. The political elements of religious ideas and institutions receive the most  coverage.
  5. The struggles of women and minorities also receive a lot of attention. 
  6. Issues involving sexual morality also receive a lot of attention. 
  7. Theological and spiritual questions are rarely presented as newsworthy.

[Adapted from Religion Studies Grade 12, Steyn et al.]

3.1 What do you understand by the word media? Include TWO different kinds of  media in your answer. (6) 
3.2 Discuss conclusion (a) in the extract above, and indicate whether it is  beneficial to religion. (6) 
3.3 Refer to conclusion (b) in the extract above and answer the following  questions: 
3.3.1 Explain, in your own words, what is meant by orthodox faiths and  minority religions in this context. (4) 
3.3.2 Suggest TWO reasons why 'the tone is mostly hostile' towards  orthodox faiths, but 'favourable' towards minority religions. (4) 
3.4 Refer to conclusion (f) in the extract above. Discuss ONE example of this you  have noticed in the media. (10) 
3.5 With regard to religious coverage in the media, explain what is meant by  EACH of the following and give a suitable example in EACH case: 
3.5.1 Stereotyping (4)
3.5.2 Bias (4)
3.5.3 Impartiality (4)
3.5.4 Sensationalism (4)
3.5.5 Factual account (4) [50]

QUESTION 4 
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow. 

HUMAN RIGHTS 

In 1948 the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights was produced and  signed by governments all over the world. In this document human rights are based on  the inherent dignity of human beings. 

 [Source: Religion Studies Grade 12, Steyn et al.]

4.1 Religious freedom is a human right. Name any TWO other human rights and  discuss the responsibilities associated with EACH of them. (8) 
4.2 What does the South African Constitution say about religious freedom? (8)
4.3 How does South Africa demonstrate religious freedom? (10) 
4.4 Name ONE country in the world where religious freedom has been violated. Explain the nature of the violation. (8) 
4.5 With reference to ANY of the religions you have studied, state FOUR  teachings that show support for EACH of the following: 
4.5.1 Human rights (8) 
4.5.2 Religious freedom (8) [50] 

QUESTION 5 
5.1 Explain EACH of the following and name ONE religion with which it is  associated: 
5.1.1 Monotheism (4)
5.1.2 Sannyasin (4)
5.1.3 Ubuntu (4)
5.1.4 Dharma (4) 
5.2 Identify ONE common feature of EACH of the following groups:
5.2.1 Christianity, Islam and Judaism (2)
5.2.2 Hinduism and Buddhism (2)
5.2.3 African Traditional Religion and the African Initiated Churches (2) 
5.3 All Muslims share a common set of beliefs (imaan). List SIX of these beliefs. (12)
5.4 Compare the concepts of religion and ideology. (4) 
5.5 Choose ONE religion and discuss THREE of its unique features. (12) [50] 

TOTAL SECTION B: 100 
GRAND TOTAL: 150

Last modified on Tuesday, 21 September 2021 09:40