The concept of 'environmental determinism,' which posits that human behavior and societal development are largely shaped by climatic and geographical conditions, dominated geographic thought in the early twentieth century. However, this perspective was increasingly criticized for its oversimplification and potential to justify colonialism. By the mid-century, scholars like Carl Sauer advocated for 'possibilism,' arguing that the environment offers a set of possibilities from which humans choose based on cultural factors. This shift underscored the active role of human agency in shaping landscapes, yet recent research suggests that neither extreme view fully captures the complex, bidirectional relationship between human societies and their environments, where environmental changes can trigger societal adaptations, and human activities can, in turn, alter environmental systems on a global scale.
❓ According to the passage, what is a main criticism of early environmental determinism?
A. It ignored the role of climate entirely.
B. It was too simplistic and could be used to support colonial practices.
C. It focused too much on cultural factors over geographical ones.
D. It was only applicable to tropical regions.
✅ 正确答案
It was too simplistic and could be used to support colonial practices.
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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