The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been debated in geography. Early proponents argued that human behavior and societal development were largely dictated by climatic and geographical conditions. However, this perspective was criticized for oversimplifying complex cultural dynamics and for justifying colonial narratives. Modern scholars advocate for a more nuanced approach, recognizing that while environment can constrain or enable certain activities, human innovation and cultural values play a pivotal role in shaping outcomes. For instance, similar ecological settings have produced vastly different societal structures, undermining the deterministic link. This shift reflects a broader trend in social sciences toward acknowledging agency and historical contingency over rigid causal explanations.
❓ 本文によると、環境決定論はなぜ批判されるのか？
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る。
B. B. それは人間の行動に対する環境の影響を過大評価しており、植民地主義を支持するために利用されてきた。
C. C. それは現代社会における技術的進歩を考慮に入れていない。
D. D. それは、地理に関係なくすべての社会が同一に発展することを提唱している。
✅ 正确答案
B. It overstates the influence of environment on human behavior and has been used to support colonialism.
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