The concept of 'environmental determinism' posits that human activities and societal development are predominantly shaped by climatic and geographical conditions. This theory, popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, argued that temperate climates fostered industriousness and technological innovation, while tropical regions, due to their heat and humidity, were associated with lethargy and limited progress. However, modern geographical scholarship has largely rejected this deterministic view, emphasizing instead the role of human agency, cultural values, and historical contingencies. Critics point to examples such as the advanced civilizations of the Maya and Inca in tropical and mountainous environments, which flourished despite adverse conditions. Contemporary research advocates for a more nuanced 'possibilism' framework, wherein the environment offers a set of constraints and opportunities, but human choices and cultural adaptations ultimately determine outcomes. This shift reflects a broader academic trend toward recognizing complexity and rejecting simplistic causal explanations in social science.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 현대 학자들이 환경 결정론을 거부하는 주된 이유는 무엇인가?
A. A. 그것은 사회를 형성하는 데 있어 인간의 행위 주체성의 역할을 과도하게 강조한다.
B. B. 그것은 도전적인 환경에서의 고급 문명 사례들을 설명하지 못한다.
C. C. 기후가 농업 생산성에 미치는 영향을 무시한다.
D. D. 그것은 19세기의 오래된 데이터에만 기반을 두고 있었다.
✅ 正确答案
B. It fails to account for examples of advanced civilizations in challenging environments.
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