The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional design aims to manage this load to optimize learning. According to cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic complexity of the material is high and is further exacerbated by poor instructional design that introduces extraneous load. For instance, presenting information in a disjointed manner or requiring learners to integrate multiple sources of unrelated information can overload working memory, leaving insufficient capacity for schema construction. Effective strategies, such as segmenting complex tasks and using worked examples, can reduce extraneous load and free up cognitive resources for deeper processing. However, researchers caution that over-simplification may reduce germane load, which is the load devoted to the processes of learning itself, thereby diminishing the depth of understanding. Thus, a balance must be struck.
❓ 文章によると、不適切な指導設計が学習を損なう主な理由は何ですか?
A. A. それは材料の本質的な複雑性を増大させる。
B. B. 深い処理に必要な関連負荷を軽減する。
C. C. それは作業記憶を圧倒する不必要な認知的負荷を生み出す。
D. D. それは学習者が実証例を効果的に使用することを妨げる。
✅ 正确答案
C. It creates unnecessary cognitive load that overwhelms working memory.
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