In comparative religion, which of the following is traditionally regarded as the main sacred scripture of Judaism, forming the core of the Hebrew Bible on which Jewish religious life is based?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding the sacred texts of major world religions is an important part of general knowledge and comparative religion. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other religions have foundational scriptures that guide belief and practice. This question focuses on Judaism and asks you to identify which text is traditionally regarded as its main sacred scripture, forming the core of the Hebrew Bible and providing the basis for Jewish law and worship.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The religion in question is Judaism.
• The options include the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, the Apocrypha, the Avesta, and a combination of two options.
• We assume exam level knowledge often found in school syllabi.
• The question is about the main sacred book, not secondary literature.

Concept / Approach:
Judaism regards the Hebrew Bible, often called the Tanakh, as its central sacred scripture. In many general knowledge questions, this text is equated with what Christians call the Old Testament. While the arrangement and interpretation may differ, at this level exams commonly treat the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible as the correct answer for the sacred book of Judaism. The Apocrypha consists of additional writings accepted by some Christian traditions but not part of the Jewish canon. The Avesta is the sacred book of Zoroastrianism. Therefore, the best choice for the sacred scripture of Judaism is the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, represented here by option a.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is asking about the main sacred scripture of Judaism.Step 2: Recall that Judaism is based on the Hebrew Bible, known as the Tanakh, which corresponds closely to what Christians call the Old Testament.Step 3: Note that option a refers to the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, which matches this understanding.Step 4: Recognize that the Apocrypha is a set of writings accepted in some Christian traditions but not part of the Jewish biblical canon.Step 5: Remember that the Avesta is the sacred book of Zoroastrianism, not Judaism, and that combining a and b is therefore also incorrect for this question.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any introductory text on world religions lists the Torah and the wider Hebrew Bible as the primary scriptures of Judaism. While details of canon and terminology can be complex, exam questions at this level usually treat the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible as the correct simple answer. The Apocrypha is specifically mentioned in Christian contexts, especially in relation to the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles, and the Avesta is consistently associated only with Zoroastrianism. This pattern confirms that option a is the best match for the sacred scripture of Judaism in this type of general knowledge question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Apocrypha contains books accepted by some Christian denominations but is not part of the Jewish biblical canon and therefore is not the main sacred book of Judaism.
The Avesta is the sacred text of Zoroastrianism, an ancient Iranian religion, not of Judaism.
The combination of both a and b is incorrect because Judaism does not treat the Apocrypha as part of its canonical scripture.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may become confused because the terms Old Testament and Hebrew Bible are used differently in Jewish and Christian traditions, and because the Apocrypha appears in some Christian Bibles. Another common mistake is to think that if one part of the scriptures is correct, then adding another might be a safer choice, leading to selection of the combined option. To avoid these pitfalls, remember that the Jewish bible is the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, which roughly corresponds to the Old Testament, and that the Apocrypha is not part of the Jewish canon. This understanding will help you answer similar questions with confidence.

Final Answer:
The main sacred scripture of Judaism is the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament as represented in option a.