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.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 초기 환경 결정론에 대한 주요 비판은 무엇인가?
A. A. 그것은 사회 발전에 있어 인간의 혁신 역할을 지나치게 강조했다.
B. B. 기후가 농업에 미치는 영향을 고려하지 못했다.
C. C. 그것은 지나치게 단순한 인과관계를 제시했으며 편견에 찬 가정을 포함하고 있었다.
D. D. 그것은 지리가 문화 교류에 미치는 영향을 무시했다.
✅ 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