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 reduce extraneous cognitive load, thereby freeing resources for the essential processing of new information. However, recent studies have challenged the assumption that simplifying visual aids always benefits learners. For instance, research by Mayer and Moreno (2010) demonstrated that adding redundant on-screen text to narrated animations can increase extraneous load, but removing it entirely may leave learners without sufficient scaffolding for complex topics. This suggests that the optimal level of instructional support depends on the learner's prior knowledge and the complexity of the subject matter, indicating that a one-size-fits-all approach to reducing cognitive load is insufficient.
❓ Каков основной вывод, сделанный автором относительно теории когнитивной нагрузки?
A. A) Упрощение учебных материалов всегда улучшает результаты обучения.
B. B) Эффективность снижения когнитивной нагрузки варьируется в зависимости от характеристик обучающегося и сложности задачи.
C. C) Добавление избыточного текста в анимации всегда наносит вред обучению.
D. D) Теория когнитивной нагрузки была полностью опровергнута недавними исследованиями.
✅ 正确答案
B) The effectiveness of reducing cognitive load varies with learner characteristics and task complexity.
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