The concept of 'environmental determinism' posits that human behavior and societal development are largely shaped by the physical environment. This theory, popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, argued that climate and geography directly influenced the economic prosperity and cultural characteristics of civilizations. However, modern geographers have largely rejected this deterministic view, favoring instead a 'possibilist' approach. Possibilism suggests that while the environment offers a range of possibilities, human agency and cultural choices ultimately determine which paths are taken. For instance, two societies with identical climates may develop vastly different technologies and social structures due to their unique historical and cultural contexts. Thus, the environment is seen not as a dictator but as a stage upon which human ingenuity plays out.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es la principal diferencia entre el determinismo ambiental y el posibilismo?
A. A. El determinismo enfatiza el clima, mientras que el posibilismo enfatiza la geografía.
B. B. El determinismo ve el medio ambiente como un factor limitante, mientras que el posibilismo lo ve como una fuente de opciones ilimitadas.
C. C. El determinismo sostiene que el entorno determina el desarrollo humano, mientras que el posibilismo sostiene que las elecciones humanas son decisivas.
D. D. El determinismo fue popular en el siglo XIX, mientras que el posibilismo se hizo popular en el siglo XX.
✅ 正确答案
C. Determinism holds that the environment dictates human development, while possibilism holds that human choices are decisive.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
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