Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
preface to buddhism and buddhists in china
a missionary no less than a professional student of buddhism needs to approach that religion with a real appreciation of what it aims to do for its people and does do. no one can come into contact with the best that buddhism offers without being impressed by its serenity, assurance and power.
professor hodous has written this volume on buddhism in china out of the ripe experience and continuing studies of sixteen years of missionary service in foochow, the chief city of fukien province, china, one of the important centers of buddhism. his local studies were supplemented by the results of broader research and study in northern china. no other available writer on the subject has gone so far as he in reproducing the actual thinking of a trained buddhist mind in regard to the fundamentals of religion. at the same time he has taken pains to exhibit and to interpret the religious life of the peasant as affected by buddhism. he has sought to be absolutely fair to buddhism, but still to express his own conviction that the best that is in buddhism is given far more adequate expression in christianity. the purpose of each volume in this series is impressionistic rather than definitely educational. they are not textbooks for the formal study of buddhism, but introductions to its study. they aim to kindle interest and to direct the activity of the awakened student along sound lines. for further study each volume amply provides through directions and literature in the appendices. it seeks to the student to discriminate, to think in terms of a devotee of buddhism when he compares that religion with christianity. it assumes, however, that christianity is the broader and deeper revelation of god and the world of today.
buddhism in china undoubtedly includes among its adherents many high-minded, devout, and earnest souls who live an idealistic life. christianity ought to make a strong appeal to such minds, taking from them none of the joy or assurance or devotion which they possess, but promoting a deeper, better balanced interpretation of the active world, a nobler conception of god, a stronger sense of sinfulness and need, and a truer idea of the full meaning of incarnation and revelation.
in the first paragraph, why does the author write that buddhism has "serenity, assurance and power"?
choose one answer.
a. he wants to convince readers that buddhism is worth studying.
b. he wants to convince readers that buddhism is a daunting subject.
c. he wants to show that buddhists are worthy opponents.
d. he wants to show that buddhists consider themselves important.
the passage implies that the author believes which of these is true of the relationship between buddhism and christianity?
choose one answer.
a. adherents of the two religions can learn important things from one another.
b. christianity displays less regional diversity in worship than buddhism.
c. many christians would convert to buddhism if they understood it better.
d. the two religions can coexist but can never be philosophically reconciled.
which argument is furthered by the inclusion of the descriptors in "sound lines" and "amply provides"?
choose one answer.
a. the book may be introductory, but it can satisfy a scholar.
b. the book may be introductory, but it includes everything important.
c. the book may be scholarly, but it is easy to understand.
d. the book may be scholarly, but it is more affordable than most.
what does the text imply about the intended audience of both the book and the book review?
choose one answer.
a. they are buddhist.
b. they are chinese.
c. they are christian.
d. they are scholars.
the author of this passage has which opinion of the volume written by professor hodous?
choose one answer.
a. it can be used as an authoritative source on chinese culture.
b. it can give christian readers insight into buddhist beliefs and practices.
c. it is better than the volumes written by other historians.
d. it is biased because of hodous's christian beliefs.