The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been debated in geographical scholarship. This theory posits that the physical environment, particularly climate and topography, directly shapes human cultural and societal development. Early proponents, such as Ellsworth Huntington, argued that temperate climates fostered industriousness and innovation, while tropical regions were associated with lethargy. However, critics contend that such views oversimplify complex human-environment interactions and have been used to justify colonialism and racial hierarchies. Modern geography rejects determinism in favor of 'possibilism', which suggests that the environment offers a set of possibilities that human cultures can exploit differently based on their technological and social choices. This shift reflects a broader recognition of human agency and the capacity for societies to adapt to and modify their surroundings, even under challenging conditions.
❓ Lý do chính khiến địa lý hiện đại bác bỏ thuyết quyết định môi trường là gì?
A. Nó bỏ qua vai trò của công nghệ trong việc định hình xã hội.
B. B) Nó đơn giản hóa quá mức các tương tác giữa con người và môi trường và đã bị lạm dụng về mặt ý thức hệ.
C. C) Nó quá nhấn mạnh ảnh hưởng của khí hậu nhiệt đới đến văn hóa.
D. D) Nó không tính đến những ràng buộc của môi trường vật lý.
✅ 正确答案
B) It oversimplifies human-environment interactions and has been misused ideologically.
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