The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been debated in geography. Early proponents argued that human societal development was largely shaped by climatic and geographical conditions, with temperate regions fostering more advanced civilizations. However, this view was criticized for oversimplifying complex human-environment interactions and for its implicit racial biases. Contemporary scholars instead favor 'possibilism', which posits that while the environment sets certain constraints, human agency and technological innovation can overcome many of these limitations. For instance, arid regions have been transformed through irrigation, and cold climates made habitable via advanced heating systems. This shift reflects a broader understanding that environmental factors are significant but not deterministic, and that cultural, economic, and political forces play equally crucial roles. Thus, modern geography emphasizes a reciprocal relationship between humans and their environment, where each influences the other in dynamic and often unpredictable ways.
❓ Sự thay đổi chính trong tư duy địa lý được mô tả trong đoạn văn là gì?
A. A. Từ việc xem môi trường như một yếu tố thụ động sang một yếu tố chủ động.
B. B. Từ thuyết quyết định môi trường đến thuyết khả năng, thừa nhận vai trò chủ động của con người.
C. C. Từ tập trung vào khí hậu sang tập trung vào công nghệ.
D. D. Từ việc chấp nhận định kiến chủng tộc đến việc bác bỏ mọi ảnh hưởng từ môi trường.
✅ 正确答案
B. From environmental determinism to possibilism, acknowledging human agency.
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