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.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 초기 환경 결정론과 현대의 환경 영향에 대한 관점 사이의 주요 차이점은 무엇인가?
A. A) 현대의 관점들은 사회를 형성하는 데 있어 환경의 역할을 완전히 부정한다.
B. B) 초기의 결정론은 단순했지만, 현대의 관점에서는 환경적 요인이 문화 및 역사와 상호작용한다고 본다.
C. C) 현대 지리학자들은 지형을 무시하고 오로지 기후에만 초점을 맞춘다.
D. D) 초기의 결정론은 인간의 주체성을 강조한 반면, 현대의 관점은 이를 무시한다.
✅ 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