The concept of 'environmental determinism,' which posits that human behavior and societal development are largely shaped by climatic and geographical conditions, has been a subject of intense debate among geographers. While early proponents, such as Ellsworth Huntington, argued that temperate climates fostered industriousness and innovation, critics contend that this perspective oversimplifies complex human-environment interactions and has been used to justify colonial and racist ideologies. Modern scholarship, however, emphasizes 'possibilism,' suggesting that the environment offers a range of opportunities, but human agency, culture, and technology ultimately determine the choices made. This shift reflects a broader trend in social sciences toward recognizing the interplay of multiple factors, rather than relying on single-variable explanations.
❓ この文章によると、環境決定論に対する主な批判を最もよく要約しているのは次のうちどれか。
A. それは、気候が人間社会を形成する役割を無視している。
B. それは人間の主体性と技術革新を過度に強調している。
C. それは複雑な人間と環境の関係を単一の原因に還元する。
D. それは、植民地支配国が自らの行動を正当化するためにのみ開発されたものである。
✅ 正确答案
It reduces complex human-environment relationships to a single cause.
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