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.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 환경 결정론과 가능론의 주요 차이점은 무엇인가?
A. A. 결정론은 기후를 강조하는 반면, 가능론은 지리를 강조한다.
B. B. 결정론은 환경을 제한 요소로 보는 반면, 가능론은 환경을 무한한 선택지의 원천으로 본다.
C. C. 결정론은 환경이 인간의 발전을 결정한다고 보는 반면, 가능론은 인간의 선택이 결정적이라고 본다.
D. D. 결정론은 19세기에 유행했으며, 가능론은 20세기에 유행하게 되었다.
✅ 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)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first