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請依下文回答第 46 題至第 50 題
In New Zealand’s Westland District the closure of the local indigenous timber industry alongside rapid growth
of the dairy and tourism sectors has produced dilemmas for families and communities as they attempt to adjust to
the social consequences of rapid industry change. Drawing on a social capital perspective and a case study of 12
Westland families, this project examines how rural families bring balance to aspects of the three actions defined by
Arendt as being essential to the human condition: family, work and community life. The findings reveal significant
insights into how social capital is effectively reproduced in times of change. These insights are discussed in terms
of their social policy implications.
Fifty years ago Hannah Arendt published The Human Condition. In this work she contended that there are
three types of action required to be “fully human.” The first two of these actions, engagement in family life and paid
work, are necessary for human existence in contemporary society. The third action she called vita activa, or public
life: a life that is actioned within jointly built civil spaces. Within these spaces we are capable of debate, we share
actions and we resolve collective dilemmas. Arendt reminds us that the absence of, or over-attention to, any one
aspect of the human condition is likely to be problematic.
A half a century on from Arendt’s original thesis, public policy continues to debate aspects of vita activa and
democratic governments still seek to engage vita activa in economically and socially productive ways. Working out
the shifting balance between family life, paid work and vita activa is a crucial aspect of responding effectively to
significant social change, be it local issues (such as natural disaster relief) or meeting the challenges that arise as a
consequence of external or global forces (such as the loss of a core industry). The concept of social capital has been
used as a way to recognise and gauge vita activa.
The term “social capital” originated, in part, in an attempt to understand how features of social organisation, such
as trust, norms and networks can improve the efficiency of society by facilitating coordinated actions. Voluntary or
joint social actions provide the opportunity to resolve collective dilemmas. Individuals achieve this through the
development and use of social bonds and networks as resources to facilitate productive activity. By maintaining the
social relationships and structures necessary for collective activity, individuals, families and communities are able to
realise some of these benefits, and in doing so can resolve some of the issues they face in common.
46 Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
Rural Families, Industry Change and Social Capital.
The Human Condition: A Book Review.
Governmental Roles in the Face of Social Change.
The Living Conditions of 12 Westland Families.
47 According to the passage, which of the following statements about Arendt is NOT true?
Her work has an important theoretical influence on the current study.
She proposes that to be fully human he/she must have a public life, a salary or wage, and a family.
She believes that public life is the most important among the three types of action mentioned.
Her theory suggests that action play a central role in facilitating and maintaining human conditions.
48 According to the passage, what kind of challenge is faced by Westland District?
Forest fires that destroyed hundreds of houses.
Loss of the timber industry to agriculture and tourism.
Lack of capital to provide free education to the community.
Lack of co-ordination among government agencies in saving the environment.
49 According to the passage, what is the main value of social capital?
It provides volunteers with crucial funding for social charity work.
It helps a community to share power and resources more equally.
It offers a hope for the unemployed people to start their new careers.
It enables a community to deal with its problems via joint efforts and actions.
50 In what kind of text would the above passage most likely appear?
A book review in an agriculture magazine. A letter to the editor in a newspaper.
A research paper in a social policy journal. A news report in New Zealand.