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 aim to manage cognitive load to optimize learning. According to Sweller's cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic load (complexity of the material) and extraneous load (how the material is presented) exceed the learner's capacity. However, recent studies suggest that a moderate level of germane load, which involves the mental resources dedicated to constructing and automating schemas, can actually enhance deep understanding. For instance, when students are presented with worked examples followed by problem-solving tasks, they tend to develop more robust mental models than when they engage in unguided discovery learning. This implies that structured guidance, while adding some load, may foster long-term retention and transfer of knowledge.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 작업 예시와 문제 해결 과제를 결합했을 때의 예상되는 효과는 무엇인가?
A. 이는 외부 부하를 증가시키고 학습 효율을 감소시킵니다.
B. 이는 무지도 발견(unguided discovery)에 비해 학습자가 더 강력한 정신 모델을 구축하는 데 도움을 줍니다.
C. 이는 모든 인지 부담을 제거하여 학습을 수월하게 만듭니다.
D. 주로 내재적 부하를 증가시켜 인지 과부하를 초래한다.
✅ 正确答案
It helps learners build stronger mental models compared to unguided discovery.
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