CRE Paper 1 Questions and Answers - Lainaku 1 Joint PreMock Exams 2023

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

• This paper consists of six questions.
• Answer any five questions in the foolscaps provided
• Each question has 20 marks
• Candidates are expected to write answers in English
• Ensure that all pages are printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.
  1.  
     1. Give reasons why Christian Religious Education is taught in Kenyan schools today. (7 marks)
     2. Outline reasons why the Bible is referred to as the “Word of God”. (7 marks)
     3. Identify six ways in which the Bible is misused in Kenya today. (6 marks)
  2.  
     1. Describe the call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-9). (8 marks)
     2. Outline five instructions given to Abraham concerning circumcision in Genesis 17. (5 marks)
     3. Explain why some people in Kenya find it difficult to worship God. (7 marks)
  3.  
     1. Give seven reasons why the Israelites demanded for a king. (I Samuel 8) (7 marks)
     2. Outline the activities of King Jeroboam which made the Israelites in the Northern Kingdom to turn away from God. (7 marks)
     3. Identify factors that prevent political leaders from performing their duties efficiently in Kenya today. (6 marks)
  4.  
     1. Explain four categories of true prophets in the Old Testament. (8 marks)
     2. Give reasons why Prophet Amos was against the way the Israelites worshipped God. (6 marks)
     3. State six reasons why Christians find it difficult to help the needy in the society today. (6 marks)
  5.  
     1. Describe the religious life of the Jews while in Babylonian exile. (5 marks)
     2. Identify seven the occasions when Nehemiah prayed. (7 marks)
     3. State the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian. (8 marks)
  6.  
     1. State eight African traditional practices which demonstrated people’s belief in God. (8 marks)
     2. Give five reasons for singing and dancing during initiation in Traditional African community. (5 marks)
     3. Identify seven ways in which Kenyans show respect to places of worship.

                                                                              MARKING SCHEME 

1.  
   1. Reasons why Christian Religious Education is taught in Kenyan schools today (7 marks)
      1. It equips the learner with an understanding of God/spiritually growth
      2. The learner acquires life skill to handle challenges in life
      3. It help one to respect his/her own/other people’s religious beliefs
      4. It helps ones to acquire basic principles for Christian living/moral values
      5. It enables ones to understand how to relate with other people
      6. It gives answers to questions/mysteries of life
      7. It explains the origin/purpose of human beings on earth
      8. It leads to employment/career     7x1= 7 marks
   2. Reasons why the Bible is referred to as the “Word of God” (7 marks)
      1. The people/authors who wrote the Bible were under the influence of the Holy Spirit/inspired
      2. Through it, God's character/attributes/ nature is revealed/speak about God
      3. God speaks/communicates to human beings through the Bible/it contains God's spoken words
      4. It shows the will/desire of God for human beings
      5. Through the Bible God guides people in their daily lives
      6. It transforms lives of people/source of moral values
      7. Part of the Bible was directly written by God Himself i.e the Ten Commandments
      8. Prophecies/ promises made in the Bible have been/are being fulfilled
      9. It reveals the actions done by God
      10. It outlines God's plan salvation fulfilled through Jesus Christ
      11. It remains relevant for all generations/ never changes                  (7x1=7 marks)
   3. Ways in which the Bible is misused in Kenya today (6 marks)
      1. It is used to take oaths in courts/offices by people who may not be believers/not saying the truth.
      2. It is kept in places associated with evil.
      3. There is distortion of the Biblical teachings/specific verses are picked to fulfill individual demand misinterpretation
      4. Some people use the Bible like an ordinary text book I reference.
      5. It is being used in witchcraft/cults to mislead people
      6. Some people are using it to enrich themselves/it is a tool of trade
      7. Some new version translated have changed the original meaning of the Bible
      8. The Bible is not read for spiritual growth but it is kept for display
      9. Some people use the Bible to threaten others/ administer curses     6x1-6 marks
2.  
   1. Describe the call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-9) (8 marks)
      1. God told Abraham to leave his country Haran/his kindred/his father’s house to the land that God would show him
      2. Od promised Abraham that he would make him a great nation/ bless him/ make his name great/ source of blessing
      3. Abraham left the land of Haran as he had been instructed by God
      4. Abraham was seventy five years when he was called
      5. He took his wife Sarai/ Lot his brother’s son/ all their possession/ his serants and set forth to the land of Canaan
      6. They passed through Canaan to the place at Shechem/ Oak of Moreh
      7. God appeared to Abraham in the land of Canaan/ promised to give the land of Canaan to his descendants
      8. Abraham built an altar to the Lord at Schechem
      9. He moved to the mountain on the east of Bethel/ pitched his tent/ built an altar for the Lord/ called on the name of the Lord
      10. Abraham journeyed on towards the Negev.        (8x1=8 marks)
   2. Instructions given to Abraham concerning circumcision in Genesis 17.   (5 marks)
      1. To practice circumcision as a sign of the covenant for him and his descendants.
      2. Every male was to be circumcised.
      3. Circumcision was to be the cutting of foreskin.
      4. Every male was to be circumcised on the eight day.
      5. It was to be passed on from one generation to another.
      6. Slaves bought with money were to be circumcised.
      7. vii)Any uncircumcised male shall be an outcast
      8. viii)It was to be a sign of obedience and faith in God.          (5 × 1 = 5 marks)
   3. Explain why some people in Kenya find it difficult to worship God.  (7 marks)
      1. Some people have a lot of wealth/influence/ power/pride/therefore they see no need of worshipping God
      2. Other people live in abject poverty hence they lose hope in God
      3. Some people are discouraged by bad examples set by some members/leaders/poor role models
      4. Influence by modern technology whereby some people spend more time on their phones/computers/hence have no time to worship God/science and technology providing many solutions
      5. Constant conflicts in some churches/leadership wrangles
      6. Some people have no faith in God/spiritual matters therefore they cannot worship God/no knowledge of God
      7. Some people give up on worshipping God when their needs are not met/ payers are not answered
      8. Some people do not worship God because they believe in other forces/powers of darkness/ witchcraft/ devil worship
      9. Some people fear to be ridiculed/ mocked by friends/peers hence fails to worship God.
      10. Ethnic differences/discrimination
      11. Hostility/insecurity/sickness
      12. Job commitments/ busy schedules
      13. Permissiveness in the society               (7x1= 7marks)
3.  
   1. Give seven reasons why the Israelites demanded for a king. (I Samuel 8) (7 marks)
      1. Samuel’s sons whom he had appointed as judges were corrupt and took bribes
      2. The Israelites wanted to be like other nations around them who had kings
      3. They wanted a king to lead them in war against their enemies e. g philistines
      4. They wanted a warrior king to lead them in the battle
      5. They wanted a human leader whom they could see and approach
      6. They wanted a king who would govern them with law and order
      7. They wanted stable hereditary kingship like other nations like other nations where power was hereditary   7x1=7 marks
   2. Activities of King Jeroboam which made the Israelites in the Northern Kingdom to turn away from God (7 marks)
      1. He stopped the Israelites from going to worship in Jerusalem
      2. He made two golden calf images to represent Yahweh
      3. He made the people offer sacrifices to idols
      4. He made Bethel and Dan centers of worship
      5. He built places of worship in hilltops
      6. He chose priests who did not belong to the family of Levi
      7. He instituted his own religious festivals in the months of his choice
      8. He worshipped idols               (7x1=7 marks)
   3. Factors that prevent political leaders from performing their duties efficiently in Kenya today (6 marks)
      1. Ridicule from the members of the society
      2. Inability to live to the expectations of their electorate or to the promises made during campaigns
      3. Women leaders are discriminated against/looked down upon by some members of the society
      4. Divisions and conflict within and between the parties
      5. Lack of adequate forum to meet and address their electorate
      6. Insecurity /death threats/ harassment by opponents
      7. Conflicting ideologies resulting in divisive decisions
      8. Inadequate funds to carry out development
      9. Personal differences
      10. Inadequate infrastructure
      11. Cultural/religious barriers/tribal/racial/corruption             6x1= 6 marks
4.  
   1. Categories of true prophets in the Old Testament (8 marks)
      1. Canonical prophets - they are prophets whose utterances are recorded in books that bear their names
      2. Non - Canonical prophets - they are prophets whose oracles/messages have been compiled by other authors
      3. Cultic - they are prophets whose duties were associated with places of worship
      4. Early prophets - were sent by God for specific tasks    (4x2= 8 marks)
   2. Reasons why Prophet Amos was against the worship of God in Israel (6 marks)
      1. The Israelites had neglected God/prophets
      2. They practiced insincere worship/had no inner faith.
      3. The worshippers were not righteous/they mistreated fellow Israelites which was against God’s teaching.
      4. They worshipped God as well as Baal/practiced syncretism.
      5. They were impatient during the worship ceremony/wanted to go back to their businesses.
      6. They gave sacrifices/ offerings as a show off/ pride/ not for love of God/hypocrisy
      7. They had many ceremonial festivals/ feasts
      8. They showed disrespect to the name of God through sexual immorality/ profaned
      9. They defiled the place of worship. e.g. drinking & wine
      10. They worshipped other gods/ built high places for them          (6x1=6 marks)
   3. Reasons why Christians find it difficult to help the needy in the society today (6 marks)
      1.  There are too many needy cases.
      2. Tribal/ethnic feelings may hinder one from giving assistance to the needy.
      3. Political leaning/affiliations influence Christians against helping those who do not belong to their camp.
      4. Lack of what to share/inadequacy/ lack of time
      5. Indifferences of some Christians to the light of the needy.
      6. Denominational differences where some Christians are not ready share with those who do not belong to their group.
      7. Poor communication/infrastructure in some parts of the country that make impossible to reach the needy.
      8. It is difficult to identify the genuine needy cases.
      9. Misappropriation of resources meant for assisting the needy discourages Christian from contributing.
      10. Insecurity/ hostility   6x1= 6marks
5.  
   1. Describe the religious life of the Jews while in Babylonian exile (5 marks)
      1. They worshipped in private homes
      2. They worshipped God in synagogues
      3. The people had little faith in God following their misfortunes
      4. There were prophets who preached and gave the people hope of return
      5. They observed the Sabbath
      6. There were no sacrifices offered
      7. They sang psalms during worship sessions
      8. Circumcision was retained as a religious sign of the covenant with God
      9. They observed the dietary laws in accordance with the Mosaic Law.         5x1= 5 marks
   2. Occasions that Nehemiah prayed (7 marks)
      1. Nehemia prayed when he got a bad report from the Jews that Jerusalem was in ruins
      2. When he was about to ask for permission from King Artaxerxes I to go to Judah and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem
      3. When Sanballat ridiculed the rebuilding of the wall
      4. When Sanballat/Tobiah/Amonites threatened to fight the people of Jerusalem/stop /attack
      5. He prayed for God’s favour after having fortified his position of food as governor for twelve years
      6. When he had purified the rooms in the house of God
      7. After warning the people against ignoring the Sabbath law
      8. After he had stopped the Israelites from intermarrying with the foreigners
      9. When he was falsely accused of treason/planning rebellion        (7x1=7 marks)
   3. State eight the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian (8 marks)
      1. Prayer is a way of communicating with God/fellowship with God
      2. Through prayer Christian faith in God is strengthened
      3. Christians have opportunity to confess/seek for forgiveness through payer
      4. Through prayer Christians thank God for blessings received
      5. Christians ask/petition god for their need through prayers/protection
      6. They use prayer to intercede/show concern for others/prayer for the sick
      7. Prayers are made in obedience to the teachings of Jesus /the Bible/commanded by God
      8. It is a way of emulating the example set by Jesus/the early Church
      9. Christians praise/adore God through prayer/worship
      10. Prayer promote unity among believers
      11. To seek God’s will/guidance       (8x1=8 marks)
6.  
   1. State eight African traditional practices which demonstrated people’s belief in God (8 marks)
      1. By praying to God
      2. By offering sacrifices and giving offerings
      3. By singing and dancing to God
      4. By naming children names of God
      5. By visiting holy /sacred places
      6. By invoking the name of god in times of problems
      7. By caring for God’s creation
      8. By consulting priests /prophets about God’s will
      9. By taking oath in the name of God
      10. By pronouncing blessing in the name of God
      11. By building shrines for God’s worship.      (8 x 1 =8 marks)
   2. Give five reasons for singing and dancing during initiation in Traditional African community (5 marks)
      1. The songs inform the participants of the history of the community./preserving culture/beliefs/practices
      2. They provide an opportunity for the members to socialise/ unity
      3. It diverts the initiate’s minds from the impending pain.
      4. The songs teach participants important moral values.
      5. Through singing and dancing the members exercise their bodies
      6. The songs encourage the initiates to face the challenge/ rebuke cowardice.
      7. It exposes those with leadership qualities/ skills/talents.
      8. They are used to mark the various stages of the initiation ceremonies/ happiness/ rejoice
      9. It is a forum of prayer for the initiative/ drive away evil spirits/ blessing for the initiates xi) Singing and dancing is a form of entertainment/ enjoyment/happiness  (5x1=5 marks)
   3. Identify seven ways in which Kenyans show respect to places of worship (7 marks)
      1. They maintain cleanliness in places of worship
      2. In some cases they remove shoes
      3. They decorate/ put flowers in places of worship
      4. They dress decently when going to church for worship
      5. Order is maintained in places of worship
      6. Constructing beautiful/ large places of worship
      7. Dedicating all instruments/ property in places of worship
      8. Showing respect/ obedience to the church leaders
      9. Observing and maintaining silence in places of worship
      10. Securing places of worship   7x1= 7 marks