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.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 교육 자료를 지나치게 단순화할 때의 잠재적 단점은 무엇인가?
A. 이는 외재적 인지부하를 증가시켜 학습자들을 혼란스럽게 만든다.
B. 이는 관련 부하를 줄여 깊은 이해를 제한합니다.
C. 초보자에게 내재적 부하가 너무 높아진다.
D. 모든 인지적 부담을 제거하여 지루함을 초래한다.
✅ 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