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WAEC Christian Religious Knowledge 2017
Questions & Answers

39 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 39 with explanations

39 Total Questions
2017 Exam Year
39 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

One of the four rivers found in the garden of Eden was

A. Nile
B. Tigris
C. Abana
D. Jordan
Explanation

According to Genesis 2:10-14, the four rivers that flowed from the Garden of Eden are Pishon, Gihon, Tigris (Hiddekel), and Euphrates. The Tigris is explicitly mentioned, distinguishing it from the other rivers listed in the options, which are not part of this biblical description.

2
Question 2 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Joseph was sold to the Midianites by his brothers at

A. Bethel
B. Gilead
C. Dothan
D. Shechem
Explanation

In Genesis 37:17-28, Joseph's brothers, upon seeing the caravan of Ishmaelites (also referred to as Midianites in some translations), sold him at Dothan. This location was where the brothers had pastured their flocks, and it was en route for the traders heading to Egypt.

3
Question 3 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The main reason why the Israelites went to Egypt was because

A. they needed divine protection
B. the Egyptians colonized them
C. Joseph was in charge of food
D. there was a great famine
Explanation

Genesis 41:54-57 and 42:1-5 describe a severe famine across the land, prompting Jacob's family to travel to Egypt where grain was available due to Joseph's preparations. While Joseph's position facilitated their settlement, the famine was the primary catalyst for their migration.

4
Question 4 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Moses' miracles among the Hebrews after his call were meant to

A. encourage rebellion against the Pharaoh
B. reveal Moses' leadership capabilities
C. convince Pharaoh of Yahweh's supremacy
D. convince Israel of Yahweh's mission
Explanation

Exodus 4:1-9 records God giving Moses three signs (staff to serpent, leprous hand, water to blood) specifically to convince the Israelites of his divine commission and Yahweh's mission to deliver them, addressing Moses' concern that they would not believe him.

5
Question 5 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Aaron was chosen to assist Moses in liberating the Israelites because

A. Moses was a stammerer
B. God had lost confidence in Moses
C. the Israelites murmured against Moses' leadership
D. Moses was old and would soon die
Explanation

In Exodus 4:10-16, Moses expresses reluctance due to his slow speech and tongue, prompting God to appoint Aaron as his spokesman. This divine arrangement highlights God's accommodation of human limitations while affirming Moses' leadership role.

6
Question 6 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites shows

A. God's guidance and protection over His people
B. the ill-equipped army of Pharaoh
C. God's fulfillment of His promises to destroy the Egyptians
D. Moses as a reliable leader
Explanation

Exodus 14:21-31 depicts the parting of the Red Sea as a direct act of God's power, providing safe passage for the Israelites and drowning the pursuing Egyptians, symbolizing divine guidance and protection, as celebrated in the Song of Moses (Exodus 15).

7
Question 7 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

To prove the land's fertility, the spies brought from the valley of Eshcol,

A. sycamore, figs and olives
B. pomegranates, citrus and vines
C. grapes, figs and pomegranates
D. olives, grapes and sycamore
Explanation

Numbers 13:23 states that the spies cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, carried on a pole by two men, along with some figs and pomegranates from the Valley of Eshcol, demonstrating the land's exceptional fruitfulness to encourage the people.

8
Question 8 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Eleazar, the man who commissioned Joshua, was a

A. seer
B. priest
C. prophet
D. judge
Explanation

Numbers 27:18-23 describes Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest, as the one who, under God's instruction, laid hands on Joshua and commissioned him as Moses' successor, emphasizing the priestly role in the transfer of leadership within Israel.

9
Question 9 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The period of the judges was characterized by

A. obedience, blessings and success
B. wars, famine and plagues
C. sojourns, discoveries and settlement
D. disobedience, punishment and deliverance
Explanation

The Book of Judges (2:11-19) outlines a recurring cycle: Israel's disobedience leads to oppression by enemies (punishment), cries for help result in God raising judges for deliverance, followed by temporary faithfulness, illustrating divine mercy amid human failings.

10
Question 10 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

In the battle against Sisera, Deborah's cooperation with Barak was based on

A. belief in Barak's power
B. absolute belief and trust in God
C. reliance on a large army
D. power as a prophetess
Explanation

Judges 4:4-9 shows Deborah, as a prophetess, assuring Barak of victory only through God's intervention, not military strength, as she declares the Lord will deliver Sisera into their hands, underscoring faith as the foundation of their alliance.

11
Question 11 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

God charged Joshua during his call to cross the Jordan River in order to

A. fight the people of Jericho
B. possess the Promised land
C. appoint Eleazar to succeed Aaron
D. circumcise all Hebrew children
Explanation

Joshua 1:1-6 records God's command to Joshua after Moses' death to cross the Jordan and possess the land promised to Abraham's descendants, fulfilling the covenant and establishing Israel's inheritance in Canaan.

12
Question 12 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The sons of Eli treated God's sacrifices with contempt by

A. laying with women in the tent
B. being ignorant of the sacrificial laws
C. taking raw meat before the fats were burnt
D. limiting themselves to the breast of the animal
Explanation

1 Samuel 2:12-17 details how Hophni and Phinehas demanded raw meat from offerings before the fat was burned as a portion for God, violating Leviticus 3:3-5 and 7:31, which prioritized God's share, thus scorning the sacrificial system.

13
Question 13 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Samuel's disagreement with Saul was caused mainly by

A. hatred
B. disobedience
C. intolerance
D. arrogance
Explanation

1 Samuel 15:22-23 recounts Samuel rebuking Saul for disobeying God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites, offering excuses instead, which Samuel equates to rebellion and idolatry, leading to Saul's rejection as king.

14
Question 14 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

David's respect and humility for the Lord's anointed was depicted in

A. his refusal to kill Saul
B. returning Saul's spear and jar
C. giving Saul a decent burial
D. the way Abner was humiliated
Explanation

In 1 Samuel 24:4-7 and 26:8-11, David twice spares Saul's life despite opportunities to kill him, declaring that he would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed, demonstrating profound respect for God's chosen king despite personal peril.

15
Question 15 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The consequence of Solomon's apostasy was

A. the division of the Kingdom of Israel
B. Rehoboam's inability to sustain and maintain the kingdom of Israel
C. the conspiracy against him by Jeroboam
D. the sudden death of his wives and concubines
Explanation

1 Kings 11:9-13,31-39 explains that Solomon's idolatry provoked God to tear the kingdom from his house after his death, resulting in the division into Israel (north) and Judah (south) under Rehoboam and Jeroboam, as a merciful delay for David's sake.

16
Question 16 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

While King Hiram of Tyre supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress, Solomon gave in return

A. fish and food
B. wheat and oil
C. salt and olives
D. grapes and gold
Explanation

1 Kings 5:10-11 specifies that Hiram provided cedar and cypress timber for the temple, and in exchange, Solomon annually supplied 20,000 cors of wheat and 20 cors of pressed oil for Hiram's household, facilitating the construction alliance.

17
Question 17 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Josiah's reforms were influenced by

A. the demise of Assyrian Empire
B. Ahab's disregard for the law
C. Assyria's conquest of states
D. the discovery of the law book
Explanation

2 Kings 22:8-13 narrates the high priest Hilkiah finding the Book of the Law in the temple, which Josiah read and responded to with repentance and reforms (2 Kings 23:1-25), purging idolatry and restoring covenant worship.

18
Question 18 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Jehoiachin surrendered to Babylon in 597 B.C. in order to

A. save Jerusalem from destruction
B. become a servant of Nebuchadnezzar
C. fulfill Moses' prophecies through Nehemiah
D. have Jews exiled into Babylon
Explanation

2 Kings 24:10-12 records Jehoiachin's surrender to Nebuchadnezzar during the siege, averting immediate total destruction of Jerusalem at that time, though exile followed; this act spared the city temporarily until Zedekiah's reign.

19
Question 19 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. This reference alludes to

A. Mattaniah, King of Judah
B. Cyrus, king of Persia
C. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
D. Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria
Explanation

2 Kings 25:1-2 describes Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon besieging Jerusalem from Zedekiah's ninth to eleventh year, leading to its fall and Zedekiah's capture, fulfilling prophetic warnings of Babylonian judgment.

20
Question 20 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Josiah defiled Topheth in order to prevent Jews from

A. sacrificing children to Molech
B. offering sacrifices to the god, Chemosh
C. worshipping the Babylonian sun god
D. building the Asherah in Hinnom
Explanation

2 Kings 23:10 states Josiah defiled Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to stop the detestable practice of burning children as offerings to Molech (Leviticus 18:21), a pagan rite adopted by some Israelites, as part of his comprehensive reforms.

21
Question 21 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they sacrifice...? Sanballat made this statement to

A. scare the Jews
B. attack the Jews
C. ridicule the Jews
D. sanction the Jews
Explanation

Nehemiah 4:1-3 shows Sanballat and Tobiah mocking the Jews' wall-building efforts, using sarcasm to ridicule their perceived weakness and futility, aiming to demoralize them and undermine their resolve through psychological intimidation.

22
Question 22 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Nehemiah succeeded in building the walls of Jerusalem because

A. he defeated Sanballat and Tobiah
B. Artaxerxes sent troops to protect him
C. God's hand was with the Jews
D. God sent plagues upon their enemies
Explanation

Nehemiah 2:18 and 6:16 attribute the successful completion of the walls in 52 days to God's enabling hand upon the Jews, causing enemies to recognize divine assistance, as Nehemiah repeatedly credits prayer and divine favor over human strength.

23
Question 23 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Which Persian king allowed the Jews to go back to rebuild the temple?

A. Nebuchadnezzar
B. Cyrus
C. Darius
D. Artaxerxes
Explanation

Ezra 1:1-4 records Cyrus the Great issuing a decree in 538 B.C., moved by God, allowing exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy (Jeremiah 29:10) and ending the Babylonian captivity.

24
Question 24 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

King Darius decreed that men should tremble and fear the God of Daniel because He (God) is the

A. saving God
B. living God
C. powerful God
D. loving God
Explanation

Daniel 6:25-27 has Darius proclaiming Daniel's God as the living God who endures forever, after miraculously delivering Daniel from the lions' den, contrasting Him with idols and commanding reverence across his kingdom.

25
Question 25 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

That Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no heed to you, o King... The king being addressed was

A. Nebuchadnezzar
B. Ashurbanipal
C. Cyrus
D. Darius
Explanation

Daniel 6:12-13 cites the officials accusing Daniel before King Darius for disregarding the decree against prayer, highlighting his faithfulness to God over the Medo-Persian ruler, leading to the lions' den ordeal.

26
Question 26 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Amos in his prophetic word advocated for

A. sincere sacrifice and worship
B. true religion and social justice
C. love and true sacrifice
D. righteousness, peace and love
Explanation

Amos 5:21-24 condemns empty rituals and calls for justice to roll like waters, emphasizing social justice, care for the oppressed (Amos 2:6-8; 5:11-12), and true piety over mere sacrifice, as God's priority.

27
Question 27 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The book of Hosea is meant to illustrate God's

A. universalism and love
B. purity and Providence
C. love and mercy
D. forgiveness and sovereignty
Explanation

Hosea 11:1-9 uses Hosea's marriage to unfaithful Gomer as an allegory for God's enduring love and mercy toward idolatrous Israel, calling them to repentance despite repeated infidelity, portraying divine compassion as a central theme.

28
Question 28 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the spirit descending upon him like a dove. What was the significance of the descent of the dove? To

A. show that he was the Messiah
B. empower him for his ministry
C. isolate him as a distinguished prophet
D. reveal him to the world
Explanation

Mark 1:9-11 describes the Spirit descending like a dove at Jesus' baptism, accompanied by God's voice affirming Him as the beloved Son, fulfilling Isaiah 42:1 and publicly inaugurating Jesus as the Messiah to witnesses including John the Baptist.

29
Question 29 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

In the temptation of Jesus, only Mark reported that Jesus was

A. angry with the devil
B. hungry and tired
C. with the wild beasts
D. victorious over the devil
Explanation

Mark 1:13 uniquely mentions Jesus being with the wild animals during His 40-day temptation in the wilderness, emphasizing harmony with creation under the angels' ministry, in contrast to Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13 which detail the temptations.

30
Question 30 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The part of the temple which was connected with Jesus' temptation was the

A. Holy of Holies
B. pinnacle
C. court of the Gentiles
D. sanctuary
Explanation

Matthew 4:5 and Luke 4:9 place the devil's temptation on the 'pinnacle' (highest point) of the temple, challenging Jesus to throw Himself down to prove divine protection via Psalm 91:11-12, testing His trust in God amid a public setting.

31
Question 31 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. The lake in question was

A. Gennesaret
B. Arabah
C. Jordan
D. Tiberias
Explanation

Luke 5:1 specifies the Lake of Gennesaret (also known as Sea of Galilee) where Jesus taught from Simon Peter's boat and performed the miraculous catch of fish, symbolizing the abundance of His call to discipleship.

32
Question 32 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

The call of Matthew, the tax collector to be one of Jesus' apostles implied that

A. tax collectors were sinless
B. Christ came to call sinners
C. Matthew was willing to repent
D. all tax collectors had repented
Explanation

Matthew 9:9-13 records Jesus calling Matthew (Levi) from his tax booth, and when criticized, He responds, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick... I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,' emphasizing His mission of redemption.

33
Question 33 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Simon Peter was reluctant in obeying Jesus' instruction to fish again because

A. the sea was rough and tempestuous
B. his colleagues had gone home
C. their night's toil was fruitless
D. the Sabbath day was beginning
Explanation

Luke 5:4-5 shows Peter responding to Jesus' command to let down the nets after a fruitless night, saying 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything,' yet obeying in faith, leading to a miraculous haul that confirmed Jesus' authority.

34
Question 34 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Jesus taught that the attitude of Christians towards forgiveness should be

A. limitless
B. restricted
C. purposeful
D. conditional
Explanation

In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks if forgiving seven times is enough, but Jesus replies 'seventy-seven times' (or seventy times seven), illustrating boundless forgiveness through the parable of the unforgiving servant, mirroring God's mercy.

35
Question 35 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Which of the following personalities presided over the Jewish trial of Jesus?

A. Caiaphas
B. Herod
C. Gamaliel
D. Pilate
Explanation

John 18:13-24 and Matthew 26:57-66 identify Caiaphas, the high priest, as presiding over the Sanhedrin trial at his residence, where false witnesses were sought and Jesus was condemned for blasphemy after affirming His messiahship.

36
Question 36 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Herod's expectation in receiving Jesus for a trial was to

A. see signs from Jesus
B. become a friend of Pilate
C. set Jesus free
D. punish Jesus
Explanation

Luke 23:6-12 describes Herod Antipas, upon hearing Jesus was Galilean, hoping to see a miracle, as he had heard many things about Him; his curiosity for signs led to mockery when none were performed, reconciling him temporarily with Pilate.

37
Question 37 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus to death so that

A. the Jews might be pleased
B. the Emperor might honour him
C. justice could be done
D. Barabbas could be freed
Explanation

John 19:12-16 shows Pilate, finding no fault in Jesus but yielding to the crowd's pressure, hands Him over to avoid political repercussions, prioritizing appeasing the Jewish leaders' demands over justice to maintain his position.

38
Question 38 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Herod treated Jesus with contempt and mockery by

A. subjecting him to severe beatings
B. forcing him for signs and wonders
C. dressing him in gorgeous apparels
D. accusing him falsely and bitterly
Explanation

Luke 23:11 recounts Herod, frustrated by Jesus' silence, arraying Him in an elegant robe and sending Him back to Pilate in mockery, treating the accused Messiah with disdain as a spectacle rather than a serious threat.

39
Question 39 of 39
WAEC · Christian Religious Knowledge · 2017

Joseph of Arimathea expressed his faith in Jesus when he

A. comforted Jesus' mother
B. supported Jesus' disciples
C. buried Jesus in his tomb
D. pleaded for Jesus' release
Explanation

Mark 15:42-46 and John 19:38-42 portray Joseph, a secret disciple and council member, boldly requesting Jesus' body from Pilate and burying it in his new tomb with Nicodemus, fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 53:9) and risking his status to honor Jesus.

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