Approximately how long ago did utilitarian ideas begin to dominate attitudes…

Concept

Reading-comprehension chronology questions must be answered from the time expression stated in the passage, not from general historical memory.

A century equals 100 years, so a phrase such as ‘two centuries’ can be converted directly into years.

Application

The passage says that an anthropocentric view emerged ‘for around two centuries or so’ and then states that utilitarian ideas began to dominate attitudes towards nature.

Cross-check and contrast

• 2,000 years equals twenty centuries.

• 60 years equals six decades.

• 100 years equals one century.

• 200 years equals two centuries.

Result

Therefore, the period stated in the passage is about 200 years ago.