雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been a subject of debate among geographers. This theory posits that human behavior and societal development are largely shaped by the physical environment, such as climate and topography. Early proponents, like Ellsworth Huntington, argued that temperate climates fostered higher levels of civilization, while tropical regions were seen as less conducive to progress. However, this perspective was heavily criticized for its Eurocentric bias and oversimplification of complex cultural dynamics. Modern scholarship tends to favor 'possibilism,' which acknowledges environmental constraints but emphasizes human agency and technological innovation as key drivers of change. This shift reflects a broader recognition that societies are not passive recipients of environmental forces but active agents in shaping their own destinies.