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.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 다음 중 환경 결정론에 대한 주요 비판을 가장 잘 요약한 것은 무엇인가?
A. 기후가 인간 사회를 형성하는 역할을 무시한다.
B. 그것은 인간의 주체성과 기술 혁신을 지나치게 강조한다.
C. 그것은 복잡한 인간-환경 관계를 단일 원인으로 축소한다.
D. 그것은 식민 강대국들이 자신들의 행동을 정당화하기 위해서만 개발한 것이다.
✅ 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