Student book questions

19.1 Defining and measuring living standards

Pages 494–495

Check your learning 19.1

Remember and understand

1 What does the term ‘living standard’ mean?

the standard of living means amount of wealth material comfort available to a person or a community

2 Give three examples of non-material living standards.

crime rates

Public health facilities

pollution levels

3 Refer to Source 2.

a Based on the criteria presented, which country has the highest living standard?
Switzerland

b Does Australia compare well in all criteria compared to the OECD average?
Australia is close to the OECD average in terms of resilience

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Apply and analyse

4 Rate the following living standard criteria from 1 to 5 according to its importance to you. If you don’t
consider this criteria to be all that important when assessing living standards, rate it as 1, and rating it
as 5 indicates you think it is extremely important.

a Primary and secondary school education is available.

5

b The air is clean.

3

c You can drink the water because it is clean.

5

d You have the right to vote.

3

e You are expected to live a long life.

3

f You are happy.

4

g You feel safe in your community.

5

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 h You have enough leisure time.
2

i You are likely to get a job.

4

j You can earn a decent income.

5

k You have enough to eat.

5

l You have shelter.

5

5 Compare your ratings in Question 4 with another classmate and explain why assessment of living
standard can be subjective.

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Oxford Big Ideas Humanities 10 Victorian Curriculum Teacher obook assess ISBN 9780190307516
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6 Consider a country that is relatively wealthy, producing an abundance of goods and services, but
where the majority of the population is close to poverty and only a minority are wealthy. Would you
consider the living standard in that country to be high or low? Why or why not?
Iran is a Country has produces a lot of the worlds oil but its people live in poverty. everything in

cost a lot more in the last 2 year. people can’t afford basic human necessities

Evaluate and create

7 Create a similar table to Source 2 but choose another country to compare Australia’s living standard
with. Go to the OECD Better Life Index website for your research.
Country: Country: Australia

over 57 percent over 73 percent

Jobs: Jobs:

USD 30 490 per annum $35759 per annum

Income: Income:

400 502
Education: Education:

76 years 83 years
Health: Health:

11.7 micrograms per cubic metre 5.2 micrograms per cubic metre
Environment: Environment:

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Oxford Big Ideas Humanities 10 Victorian Curriculum Teacher obook assess ISBN 9780190307516
Permission has been granted for this page to be photocopied within the purchasing institution only.