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, first proposed by John Sweller in the 1980s, suggests that learning is most effective when instructional designs align with human cognitive architecture. The theory distinguishes between intrinsic load, which is inherent to the complexity of the material, and extraneous load, which is generated by the way information is presented. Extraneous load can be reduced by well-designed instructional materials, freeing up working memory resources for schema construction. Recent research has further explored the role of germane load, which is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material. However, critics argue that measuring these distinct types of load separately remains a methodological challenge, as they may overlap in practice.
❓ Согласно тексту, что из следующего верно в отношении теории когнитивной нагрузки?
A. A. Он был разработан для устранения всех типов когнитивной нагрузки в обучении.
B. B. Это предполагает, что посторонняя нагрузка может быть минимизирована с помощью эффективного проектирования обучения.
C. C. Утверждается, что внутренняя нагрузка всегда полезна для обучения.
D. D. Он был полностью подтверждён исследователями без каких-либо методологических проблем.
✅ 正确答案
B. It suggests that extraneous load can be minimized through effective 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