What is the Theory of the Four Humours linked to?

• A. Four elements
• B. Four seasons
• C. Four winds
• D. Four ages

Answer: (B)

The idea behind the Four Humours is that the body’s health depends on a balance of four fluids, and in ancient medical thought those fluids were tied to the cycles of the natural world. The seasons provided the framework for this theory: each humour was thought to dominate at different times of the year, so health and illness were explained in terms of the seasonal changes. That seasonal linkage is what the question is getting at, making four seasons the best answer. The other options reflect different ways people categorized the world (elements, winds, ages), but the classic medical theory used the yearly cycle to explain how humours influenced health.