The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been debated in geography. Early theorists argued that human behavior and societal development were largely shaped by climatic conditions and physical geography. However, this perspective lost favor in the twentieth century due to its deterministic implications and lack of empirical support. Contemporary scholars instead advocate for 'possibilism', which posits that while the environment offers a range of possibilities, human agency and cultural choices ultimately determine outcomes. This shift reflects a broader trend in social sciences towards acknowledging human adaptability and technological innovation. Recent studies in climate resilience further emphasize that communities can thrive in challenging environments through adaptive strategies, challenging simplistic environmental explanations.
❓ 文章によると、環境決定論が否定される主な理由は何か。
A. A. 科学的に試験するには複雑すぎた。
B. B. それは過度に硬直的であると見なされ、経験的証拠を欠いていた。
C. C. それは人間の文化的選択に焦点を当てすぎていた。
D. D. それは環境的限界を強調する理論に取って代わられた。
✅ 正确答案
B. It was seen as overly rigid and lacked empirical evidence.
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