English questions I have

I've been given three questions in which I do not understand please give me ANY input you can as it would be REALLY helpful!
1) what is the meaning of the phrase "realise ourselves as a civilization"?
The sentence this comes from "our clear task we hope to relaise oursleves as a civilization, is to cherish the writers who have done hteir work and nourish the writers who are still doing it.

2)To what extent is it true that "contemporary society desperately needs literature and the literary imagination?
In this question I have to give specific examples and define literary imagination

3) Is literature the best way of reaching the meaning of exsistance?

Any input would help a lot, I REALLY don't understand how to go about answering these questions. Any help owuld be appreciated! :)

[RonBee]

I would say that literature might be the best way of teaching the meaning of existence.