The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been a contentious topic in geography. Early proponents, such as Ellsworth Huntington, argued that climate and topography were the primary drivers of human societal development, suggesting that temperate regions fostered advanced civilizations while tropical areas lagged due to harsh conditions. However, this perspective was heavily criticized for its simplistic causality and implicit racial bias. By the mid-20th century, it was largely replaced by 'possibilism', which posits that while the environment imposes certain constraints, human agency and cultural innovation play a decisive role in shaping outcomes. Contemporary scholarship further refines this view, emphasizing the complex interplay between ecological factors, technological adaptation, and historical contingency. This nuanced approach acknowledges environmental influences without reducing human history to mere natural determinism.
❓ 根据文章，早期环境决定论的主要批评是什么？
A. A. それは社会進歩における人間の革新の役割を過度に強調していた。
B. B. それは気候が農業に与える影響を考慮に入れていなかった。
C. C. それはあまりにも単純な因果関係を示しており、偏見に満ちた前提を含んでいた。
D. D. それは文化交流に対する地理の影響を無視していた。
✅ 正确答案
C. It presented an overly simple cause-and-effect relationship and contained prejudiced assumptions.
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