The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been a contentious issue in geography. Early proponents, such as Ellsworth Huntington, argued that climate and topography directly shaped human civilization, positing that temperate zones fostered advanced societies while tropical regions hindered development. However, this perspective was heavily criticized in the 20th century for its Eurocentric bias and oversimplification of complex cultural dynamics. Contemporary scholars instead advocate for 'possibilism,' which suggests that while the environment imposes constraints, human agency and technological innovation play a pivotal role in overcoming these limitations. This shift reflects a broader trend in academia towards recognizing the interplay between natural and social factors, rather than attributing causality to a single variable.
❓ 後の学者たちが環境決定論を退けた主な理由は何ですか？
A. A) それは、社会を形成する上での気候の役割を無視していた。
B. B) それは限られた地理的データに基づいていた。
C. C) それは人間の創造性と文化的複雑さを考慮に入れていなかった。
D. D) それは熱帯地域にのみ適用された。
✅ 正确答案
C) It failed to account for human creativity and cultural complexity.
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