The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional designers often strive to manage cognitive load to enhance learning efficiency. According to cognitive load theory, learning is hampered when the total load exceeds the learner's working memory capacity. This can occur when the material itself is complex (intrinsic load) or when the presentation is poorly designed, creating unnecessary mental processing (extraneous load). Conversely, germane load refers to the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material, which is beneficial for learning. Recent studies suggest that by reducing extraneous load through clear, concise instructional formats, educators can free up cognitive resources for germane processing, thereby improving knowledge acquisition and retention.
❓ 文章によると、指導における外的負荷を減らす主な利点は何ですか？
A. A. それは材料の本質的な複雑性を増大させる。
B. B. 有益な学習プロセスのために、より多くの精神的リソースを確保できるようにする。
C. C. それは作業記憶容量を直接減少させる。
D. D. 認知負荷理論の必要性を排除する。
✅ 正确答案
B. It allows more mental resources for beneficial learning processes.
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