Which of the following options reflects a prohibition on cremation as noted in the material?

• A. Buddhists and Hindus
• B. Orthodox Jews and Muslims
• C. Catholics and Protestants
• D. Sikhs and Jains

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is which religious groups prohibit cremation. In Orthodox Judaism, burial is the traditional and preferred method, and cremation is forbidden by Jewish law, since the body should be returned to the earth intact and handled with special ritual care. In Islam, cremation is forbidden as well because burial is required and the body should be treated with reverence, plus there’s a belief in the importance of resurrection. Because this material points to prohibitions in these two traditions, the pair that reflects a prohibition on cremation is Orthodox Jews and Muslims. Other groups listed are known for practicing cremation or permitting it in modern practice, so they wouldn’t align with a prohibition.