The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, cognitive load theory suggests that instructional design should minimize extraneous cognitive load to facilitate learning. Extraneous load is generated by the manner in which information is presented to learners, such as unnecessary visual distractions or complex language. By contrast, intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity of the subject matter itself, and germane load is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material. Research indicates that when extraneous load is reduced, learners can allocate more working memory resources to germane processes, thereby improving comprehension and retention. However, overly simplifying content may reduce intrinsic challenge, potentially hindering deep learning. Thus, effective instructional materials must balance these types of cognitive load to optimize educational outcomes.
❓ 文章によると、学習教材における無関係な認知的負荷を軽減することの主な利点は何ですか？
A. A. それは学習者にとって内容をより挑戦的なものにします。
B. B. それにより、学習者は教材の理解により集中することができる。
C. C. それは内因性負荷の必要性を排除する。
D. D. それは主題の複雑さを増大させる。
✅ 正确答案
B. It allows learners to focus more on understanding the material.
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