The concept of 'environmental determinism', which posits that human behavior and societal development are largely shaped by climatic and geographical conditions, dominated geographic thought in the early 20th century. However, this theory was increasingly criticized for its oversimplification of complex cultural phenomena and its implicit justification of colonial hierarchies. By the mid-century, it was largely replaced by 'possibilism', which argued that the environment offers a set of possibilities from which humans, guided by their cultural and technological capacities, make choices. This shift reflected a broader academic trend toward acknowledging human agency and the role of social factors in shaping history, yet recent studies suggest that environmental constraints, particularly in the context of climate change, are re-emerging as critical variables in understanding societal resilience, though not in a deterministic manner.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es la principal diferencia entre el determinismo ambiental y el posibilismo?
A. A. El determinismo enfatiza la agencia humana, mientras que el posibilismo enfatiza las limitaciones ambientales.
B. B. El determinismo considera el entorno como el principal moldeador de la sociedad, mientras que el posibilismo lo ve como proveedor de opciones dentro del control humano.
C. C. El posibilismo fue desarrollado para justificar jerarquías coloniales, mientras que el determinismo no lo fue.
D. D. El posibilismo ignora el cambio climático, mientras que el determinismo lo incorpora.
✅ 正确答案
B. Determinism views the environment as the primary shaper of society, while possibilism sees the environment as providing options within human control.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
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