Question

historians agree that buddhism began with the teachings of siddhartha gautama (si-dar-tuh gow-tuh-muh). during his life, siddhartha became a great teacher and was given the title \buddha\ (boo-duh).
read about some common buddhist beliefs. then answer the question below.

• there were buddhas who lived before siddhartha, and there will be buddhas who come after him.
• human history is divided into periods of time called ages. each age lasts about 12,000 years. and during each age, a buddha comes to teach people.
• siddhartha is often called \the buddha,\ instead of just \buddha,\ because he is the buddha of this age.

what does it mean to say that siddhartha is \the buddha of this age\?
he was the buddha who lived most recently.
he was less important than future buddhas.
he was the first buddha who ever lived.
he was not very old when he became a buddha.

Explanation:

The text states human history is divided into ~12,000-year ages, each with one teaching buddha. Siddhartha is "the Buddha of this age"—meaning he is the buddha corresponding to the current age, hence the most recent one (since past ages had prior buddhas and future ages will have others). The other options contradict the text: he is not less important, not the first, and age at becoming buddha is unmentioned.

Answer:

He was the buddha who lived most recently.