The concept of 'environmental determinism,' which posits that human behavior and societal development are largely shaped by climatic and geographical conditions, has been a subject of intense debate among geographers. While early proponents like Ellsworth Huntington argued that temperate climates fostered industriousness, critics contend that such theories oversimplify complex cultural dynamics and often carry ethnocentric biases. Modern scholarship tends to favor 'possibilism,' which acknowledges environmental constraints but emphasizes human agency and technological innovation in overcoming them. However, recent studies on climate change impacts suggest that even with advanced technology, societies in vulnerable regions face significant limitations, reviving nuanced discussions about the interplay between environment and culture. This ongoing discourse highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological data with social analysis, avoiding both naive reductionism and outright dismissal of environmental factors.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 초기 환경 결정론에 대한 주요 비판은 무엇인가?
A. 기후가 사회를 형성하는 역할을 무시했다.
B. 그것은 인간의 주체성과 기술 발전을 지나치게 강조했다.
C. 그것은 문화적 복잡성을 단순화하고 자민족 중심적 편견을 내포하고 있었다.
D. 그것은 자신의 주장에 대한 경험적 증거를 전혀 제시하지 못했다.
✅ 正确答案
It simplified cultural complexities and carried ethnocentric biases.
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