The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, cognitive load theory suggests that instructional design should minimize extraneous load to facilitate learning. Extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented, not by the inherent complexity of the material itself. For instance, a poorly designed diagram that requires students to search for corresponding labels can increase extraneous load, thereby hindering schema acquisition. Conversely, intrinsic load is tied to the difficulty of the subject matter and cannot be altered by instructional methods. Effective teaching strategies aim to manage intrinsic load while reducing extraneous load, often by integrating visual and verbal information or providing worked examples. This theory has profound implications for multimedia learning environments, where the split-attention effect can overwhelm learners if not carefully addressed.
❓ According to the passage, what is the primary difference between extraneous and intrinsic cognitive load?
A. A. Extraneous load is caused by the difficulty of the material, while intrinsic load is caused by presentation format.
B. B. Extraneous load can be reduced through better instructional design, while intrinsic load is inherent to the content.
C. C. Intrinsic load is always higher than extraneous load in multimedia learning.
D. D. Extraneous load is beneficial for schema acquisition, while intrinsic load hinders it.
✅ 正确答案
B. Extraneous load can be reduced through better instructional design, while intrinsic load is inherent to the content.
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