The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been a contentious issue in geographical scholarship. Early proponents, such as Ellsworth Huntington, argued that climate and topography directly shaped human behavior and societal development. However, this perspective was heavily critiqued in the mid-20th century for its simplistic causality and potential to justify colonialism. Contemporary geographers, like Jared Diamond, have revived interest in the role of environmental factors but with greater nuance, emphasizing their interaction with cultural and historical contingencies rather than asserting a unidirectional influence. This modern approach acknowledges that while geography can constrain or enable certain paths, human agency and technological innovation often mediate these effects, leading to diverse outcomes in similar environments.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es la principal diferencia entre el determinismo ambiental temprano y las visiones contemporáneas sobre la influencia del medio ambiente?
A. Las visiones contemporáneas rechazan por completo cualquier papel del entorno en la configuración de las sociedades.
B. B) El determinismo temprano era simplista, mientras que las visiones contemporáneas consideran que los factores ambientales interactúan con la cultura y la historia.
C. C) Los geógrafos contemporáneos se centran únicamente en el clima, ignorando la topografía.
D. D) El determinismo temprano enfatizaba la agencia humana, mientras que las visiones contemporáneas la ignoran.
✅ 正确答案
B) Early determinism was simplistic, while contemporary views consider environmental factors as interacting with culture and history.
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