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 outcomes. According to Sweller's cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic complexity of the material, combined with the way it is presented, exceeds the learner's available working memory capacity. Extraneous cognitive load, which arises from poorly designed instruction, can be reduced by simplifying presentations or using worked examples. However, intrinsic load, which depends on the element interactivity of the content, cannot be altered without changing the nature of the task. Therefore, effective teaching strategies must balance these types of load to optimize schema acquisition.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 내재적 인지 부하와 외재적 인지 부하의 주요 차이점은 무엇인가?
A. 내재적 부하는 학습에 유익하지만, 외재적 부하는 항상 해롭다.
B. 내재적 부하는 자료 자체의 복잡성에 의해 결정되는 반면, 외재적 부하는 교수 설계로 인해 발생한다.
C. 불필요한 인지 부하는 완전히 제거할 수 있지만, 본질적 인지 부하는 줄일 수 없다.
D. 내재적 부하는 교육적 환경에서만 발생하는 반면, 외재적 부하는 모든 상황에서 발생한다.
✅ 正确答案
Intrinsic load is determined by the complexity of the material itself, whereas extraneous load is caused by instructional design.
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