The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been debated in geography. Early proponents argued that human behavior and societal development were largely shaped by climatic conditions and physical geography. However, this perspective fell out of favor in the mid-20th century, criticized for oversimplifying complex cultural interactions and for justifying colonial narratives. Contemporary researchers instead emphasize 'possibilism', which posits that the environment offers a range of possibilities, and human choices, driven by culture and technology, determine outcomes. This shift reflects a broader trend in social sciences toward acknowledging human agency while not ignoring environmental constraints. Recent studies, such as those on climate change adaptation, demonstrate that societies can respond innovatively to environmental pressures, yet their capacity to do so is unevenly distributed globally, often correlating with economic resources.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es la razón principal por la que se criticó el determinismo ambiental?
A. Ignoró el papel de la tecnología en la configuración de las sociedades.
B. Sobrepuso el papel de la agencia humana en detrimento de los factores ambientales.
C. Simplificó las interacciones culturales y apoyó las ideologías coloniales.
D. No tuvo en cuenta los impactos del cambio climático.
✅ 正确答案
It simplified cultural interactions and supported colonial ideologies.
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)
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