KCSE 2011 Christian Religious Education (CRE) Paper 1 Questions with Marking Scheme

1. 1. Explain the benefits of learning Christian Religious Education in Secondary Schools in Kenya. (8 marks)
      
      
   2. Outline the major divisions of both the Old and New Testament. (5 marks)
      
      
   3. Identify seven ways in which the Bible is misused in Kenya today. (7 marks)
      
      
2. 1. Describe how God prepared the Israelites for the making of the covenant at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19) (8 marks)
      
      
   2. Give four reasons that made the Israelites to break the covenant while at Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 32: 1-35). (4 marks)
      
      
   3. What do Christians learn about the nature of God from the Exodus? (8 marks)
      
      
3. 1. Outline the failures of King Saul. (5 marks)
      
      
   2. Explain the achievement of David as King of Israel. (7 marks)
      
      
   3. Give four reasons why Christians in Kenya should build churches. (8 marks)
      
      
4. 1. Outline seven characteristics of the prophets in the Old Testament. (7 marks)
      
      
   2. Describe the call of Amos to become a prophet of God in Israel. (8 marks)
      
      
   3. Identify five visions of prophet Amos. (5 marks)
      
      
5. 1. Outline the stages followed in the renewal of the covenant during the time of Nehemiah. (8 marks)
      
      
   2. Give six reasons why Nehemiah carried out religious reforms in Judah. (6 marks)
      
      
   3. What lessons do Christians learn from the renewal of the covenant by Nehemiah? (6 marks)
      
      
6. 1. Describe the traditional African view of a community. (8 marks)
      
      
   2. Explain six factors that has affected the traditional African peoples’ dependence on God. (6 marks)
      
      
   3. Outline six similarities between the Christian and traditional African ways of showing respect to God. (6 marks)

MARKING SCHEME

1.      
   1. The benefits of learning Christian Religious Education in secondary schools.
      • It equips the learner with an understanding of God/spiritual growth.
      • The learner acquires life skills to handle challenges in life / critical thinking/proper decisions.
      • It helps one to respect his/her own / other people's religious beliefs / culture.
      • It helps one to acquire basic principles for christian living / moral values.
      • It enables one to understand how to relate with other people.
      • It gives answers to questions / mysteries of life / metaphysical world
      • It explains the origin / purpose of human beings on earth.
      • It leads to employment / career.
        4x2 = 8 marks
   2. The major divisions of the old and new testament.
      • Law books / Torah / pentateuch
      • Historical books.
      • Poetic books.
      • Prophetic books.
      • The Gospels / Biographical books.
      • Epistles / letters.
        5x1 = 5 marks
   3. Ways in which the Bible is misused in Kenya today.
      • It is used to take oaths in courts / offices by people who may not be believers / not saying the truth.
      • It is kept in places associated with evil.
      • There is distortion of the Biblical teachings / specific verses are picked to fulfil individual demands / misinterpretation / selective.
      • Some people use the Bible like an ordinary text book / reference no spiritual connection /in schools / colleges.
      • It is being used in witchcraft / cults to mislead people. 
      • Some people are using it to enrich themselves / it is a tool of trade / financial aspect,
      • Some new versions translated have changed the original meaning of the Bible.
      • The Bible is not read for spiritual growth but it is kept for display / leisure
      • Some people use the Bible to threaten others source of conflict / administer curses.
        7x1= 7 marks
2.            
   1. How God prepared the Israelites for the making of the covenant at Mt. Sinai
      • God told Moses to rernind the people of Israel of how he had brought them out of Egypt.
      • God told Moses that He wanted to make a special relationship with Israel / make them a kingdom of priests / A holy nation.
      • Moses called all the elders / people and told them what God had said.
      • God told Moses that he wanted the Israelites to obey Him.
      • The Israelites promised to do all that the Lord had said.
      • God promised to come down and meet with the people on the third day.
      • The people were instructed to consecrate themselves / wash their garments / clean.
      • Moses set bounds for the people not to go up the mountain / touch the border of it / boundaries.
      • The people were to abstain from sexual relationships.
      • On the third day, there was a thick cloud upon the mountain / loud trumpet blast lan earth quake.
      • Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God/ they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.
      • The Lord came down to the top of the mountain / called Moses to go up Him.
        8x1 = 8 marks
   2. Reasons why the Israelites broke the covenant while at Mt. Sinai
      • Moses their leader delayed to come down from the mountain/ imagined he had died.
      • Aaron who had been left in charge of the people was a weak leader.
      • The people demanded for a god / gods they could see / feel.
      • The people were still influenced by the Egyptian way of worship / idolatry.
      • Moses teaching / influence had faded / vanished from the people's minds/ forgotten.
      • The people had lost faith in their invisible God.
        4x1 = 4 marks
   3. Lessons learned by christians about the nature of God from the Exodus.
      •  God is caring / a provider.
      • He communicates.
      • He provides.
      • He is powerful.
      • He guides.
      • He protects.
      • He commands.
      • He is to be obeyed.
      • He punishes those who disobey him / justice.
      • He is holy.
      • He is faithful / keeps promises.
      • He is patient / slow to anger.
      • Merciful.
      • Jealous.
        8x1 = 8 marks
3.          
   1. The failures of King Saul.
      • He offered the burnt offering / assumed pristly duties.
      • He lacked patience to wait for Samuel who was to offer burnt offering to God.
      • He disobeyed God's command to destroy the Amalekites completely by sparing the life of King Agag. / Herem
      • He spared the best of the animals instead of destroying them.
      • He lost faith in God / consulted a medium/necromancy.
      • He wanted to kill David / was jeolous of David.
      • He was deceitful to the servant of God.
      • He committed suicide.
        5x1= 5 marks
   2. The achievements of David as king of Israel.
      • David conquered / defeated the enemies of Israel.
      • He expanded the geographical boundaries of Israel / established boundaries.
      • He captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites.
      • He made Jerusalem the capital city of Israel.
      • He made Jerusalem a religious centre by bringing the ark of the covenant there.
      • He made peace treaties with his neighbours / Diplomatic ties / trade links
      • He composed psalms which are used during worship.
      • He united the twelve tribes of Israel under one ruler.
      • He made preparations for the construction of the Temple.
        7x1 = 7 marks
   3. Reasons why Christians build churches
      • Churches are used for worshipping God / prayer
      • They signify God's presence / house of God.
      • They are used for meetings / a place of gathering for members / unity/ meetings.
      • Religious functions take place there / festivals.
      • They are places where members receive religious instruction / preaching,
      • As a sign of prestige / recognition / identification. 
      • To demonstrate their faith in the existence of God.
      • To follow the traditions of the Old Testament teachings on the temple as a house of God.
      • It can be used as a place of refuge in times of danger / calamity.
      • Sign of growth in terms of numbers.
        4x2 = 8 marks
4.      
   1. Characteristics of prophets in the Old Testament
      • They were God's mouth piece / spokes people / mediators
      • They responded to God's call in faith / they obeyed.
      • They were called by God.
      • They were given specific tasks to carry out.
      • They communicated God's messages with authority / without fear.
      • They spoke the truth in all circumstances.
      • Their prophecies came true / were fulfilled.
      • They never worked for material gain / were not paid for their work.
      • They called people to come back to the covenant way of life / monotheism.
      • They pronounced God's punishment / judgement / restoration /hope.
      • They were persecuted for their work.
      • They led exemplary lives / role models / prayerful / righteous.
      • They understood the nature of theri prophesies.
        Any 7 x1 = 7 marks
   2. The call of Amos to become a prophet in Israel.
      • Amos was a farmer tending sycamore trees / shepherd.
      • He came from a village called Tekoa in Judah.
      • He became a prophet during the reign of king Uzziah and Jeroboam II
      • God called him through a vision.
      • He felt a strong compulsion to prophesy / strong feeling to prophesy
      • He responded to God's call in faith / obedience.
        Any 4 x 2 = 8 marks
   3. The five visions of prophet Amos
      • He saw a swarm of locusts.
      • He saw a great fire sent by God.
      • He saw a crooked wall being measured using a plumbline.
      • He saw a basket full of ripe fruits / summer fruits
      • He saw the destruction of the alter / temple /
        Any 5x1 = 5 marks
5.          
   1. The stages followed during the renewal of the covenant at the time of Nehemiah
      • The people gathered in the public square in Jerusalem.
      • The priest Ezra read the law to the people.
      • They performed repentance gestures of raising / lowering their hands / moaning/wailing/ weeping / spontaneous reaction.
      • The people constructed makeshift tents / shelters to celebrate the feasts of the booths.
      • There was national day of confession / fasting as they wore sack clothes.
      • Ezra led people in prayer of confession.
      • They sealed the covenant by signing an agreement under the leadership of Nehemiah and the priest.
      • The people promised not to go against the Mosaic law.
      • The re-distribution of the people in Jerusalem and country side.
        4x2 = 8 marks
   2. Reasons why Nehemiah carried out religious reforms in Judah
      • To preserve the identity of the Jews as people of God / covenant way of life.
      • To separate the Jews from foreign influence.
      • To purify the temple which had been defiled by keeping a foreigner.
      • To reinstate the services of the levites as priests in the temple.
      • To restore the tithing system that had been forgotten for the upkeep of the Temple
      • To ensure that the sabbath day was free from business activities.
      • In order to cleanse the Jews who had intermarried with foreigners / exposed to idolatry.
      • Restore true worship
        6x1 = 6 marks
   3. Lessons from the renewal of the covenant by Nehemiah
      • Christians should ask for their sins to be forgiven.
      • They should lead righteous lives / be obedient.
      • Christians should always pray to God.
      • Christians should demonstrate humility.
      • They should avoid groups that can negatively influence their faith in God.
      • They should teach others the word of God / Sabbath. 
      • They should set aside a day for worship.
      • They should respect the church as a place for prayer.
      • They should read the word of God regularly.
      • They should share with the needy.
        6x1 = 6 marks
6.           
   1. The traditional African view of a community
      • The members of the community include the unborn / the living / living dead / the ancestors, The members speak one common language.
      • They are related either by blood / marriage / adoption / ancestry.
      • The community members occupy the same geographical area / region.
      • They carry out similar economic activities.
      • The community is made up of smaller units / clans.
      • Each community has its own distinct rules / taboos / beliefs / customs / cultural practices.
      • Members of a community are expected to show concem for the well being of others / communial ownership of property.
      • The members are expected to participate in the life of the community.
        Any 4 x 2 = 8 marks
   2. The factors that have affected the traditional African people's dependence on God.
      • The introduction of western culture Some people rely on witchcraft to solve their problems.
      • Greed for power / materialism without the fear of God.
      • Some people rely on science and technology
      • Money economy where success now depends on how much money one earn
      • Abject poverty has made people loose hope / faith in God.
      • Negative peer pressure influences the members to rely on themselves other than God.
      • Pressure of modern living makes people too busy to serve God / urbanization.
      • Modern education that has made people ignore God.
        6 x 1 = 6 marks
   3. Similarities between the Christian and traditional African ways of showing respect to God.
      • Members pray to God.
      • They give offerings.
      • Members sing songs.
      • Members show respect to God by helping those in need.
      • They use God's name sparingly / avoid mentioning God's name carelessly. (vi) Members use the God given resources / environment carefully,
      • They build / maintain /honour places of worship.
      • Members take care of religious leaders.
      • Members obey the laws / commands of God
        6x1= 6 marks