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 instructional design should minimize extraneous cognitive load to facilitate learning. Extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented to learners, such as confusing layouts or irrelevant details, which do not contribute to schema construction. Intrinsic load, by contrast, is inherent to the complexity of the material itself and cannot be reduced without simplifying the content. Germane load, the third type, is the effort devoted to processing and integrating new information into existing cognitive structures. Effective teaching materials aim to optimize germane load while reducing extraneous load, allowing learners to focus on meaningful understanding rather than on overcoming unnecessary obstacles.
❓ 文章によると、指導教材の設計方法によって最も直接的に影響を受ける認知負荷の種類はどれか。
A. A. 内因性負荷
B. B. 関連負荷（ジャーメイン・ロード）
C. C. 外的負荷
D. D. 作業記憶の負荷
✅ 正确答案
C. Extraneous load
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