The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional designers often aim to manage cognitive load to optimize learning. According to Sweller's cognitive load theory, there are three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity of the material itself, while extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented, which can be unnecessarily high if the instruction is poorly designed. Germane load, on the other hand, is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material, which is beneficial for learning. Research suggests that reducing extraneous load, for instance by using clear diagrams instead of verbose text, can free up working memory resources for germane processing. However, overly simplifying material may reduce intrinsic load to a level that hinders deep understanding, as some challenges are necessary for schema construction.
❓ 文章によると、教材を過度に簡略化することの潜在的な欠点は何か。
A. それは余計な負荷を増やし、学習者を混乱させます。
B. それは関連負荷を減らし、深い理解を制限する。
C. 初心者にとって内在的負荷が高すぎるものにしてしまう。
D. それはすべての認知的負荷を取り除き、退屈につながる。
✅ 正确答案
It reduces germane load, limiting deep understanding.
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