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 and geographical conditions. However, this perspective lost favor in the mid-20th century due to its oversimplification and potential for justifying colonialism. Contemporary scholars instead advocate for 'possibilism', which posits that the environment offers a set of possibilities and constraints, but human agency and cultural innovation ultimately determine outcomes. For instance, while arid regions may limit agriculture, technological advancements like drip irrigation can overcome such barriers. This nuanced view acknowledges the environment's influence without reducing humans to passive recipients of natural forces. Recent research further emphasizes the role of globalization, which allows societies to mitigate environmental limitations through trade and knowledge exchange, thus complicating any direct causal link between environment and society.
❓ 根据文章内容，环境决定论与可能论之间的主要区别是什么？
A. A) 決定論は気候を無視するが、可能論はそれを重視する。
B. B) 決定論は環境を支配的なものと見なす一方、可能論はそれを人間の選択が働く枠組みと見なす。
C. C) 決定論は植民地主義を支持する一方、可能論はすべての技術を拒絶する。
D. D) 決定論は乾燥地域に焦点を当てる一方、可能論は温帯地域に焦点を当てる。
✅ 正确答案
B) Determinism sees environment as controlling, while possibilism sees it as a framework with human choice.
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