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 learning is most effective when instructional materials are designed to minimize extraneous cognitive load, thereby freeing resources for schema construction. However, recent research indicates that a certain level of desirable difficulty, such as interleaving practice or introducing occasional spacing, can enhance long-term retention despite increasing intrinsic load. This paradox challenges the simplistic assumption that lower load always leads to better outcomes, implying that the optimal level of load depends on the learner's expertise and the complexity of the task.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 인지 부하에 대한 전통적 관점의 주요 도전 과제는 무엇인가?
A. A. 인지 부하를 낮추는 것이 항상 학습 성과를 향상시킨다.
B. B. 학습에 있어 어느 정도의 어려움은 실제로 장기 기억 유지력을 향상시킬 수 있다.
C. C. 외부 부하는 어떤 대가를 치르더라도 최소화되어야 한다.
D. D. 전문가 학습자의 작업 기억 용량은 무제한이다.
✅ 正确答案
B. Some difficulty in learning can actually improve long-term retention.
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