Final answer:
The statement that seasonal changes are due to Earth's 23.5° axial tilt, leading to more direct sunlight at different times of the year, is true. Distance from the sun is not the primary factor for the seasons, but rather the angle and duration of sunlight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that because the Earth is tilted 23.5° on its axis, sunlight strikes areas of the planet more directly at certain times of the year is indeed true. The 23.5° tilt of the Earth's axis is responsible for the changing seasons we experience throughout the year. For example, during June, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, resulting in longer days and more direct sunlight, which brings about summer. Conversely, in December, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to shorter days and less direct sunlight, resulting in winter. During the equinoxes, in March and September, the Earth's tilt is such that both hemispheres receive equal amounts of sunlight, making for approximately equal day and night lengths.
An argument that contradicts the idea that the seasons are due to the hemispheres being physically closer to the sun is the fact that the Earth is closest to the sun in January, during the Northern Hemisphere's winter, which implies that distance is not the primary factor. Instead, the angle of the sun's rays and the duration they are received during the day are the key aspects influencing the seasons.