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 designs align with human cognitive architecture. Intrinsic load is the inherent difficulty of the material itself, while extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented. Germane load, on the other hand, is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material, which directly contributes to learning. Research indicates that poorly designed materials can unnecessarily increase extraneous load, thereby reducing the cognitive resources available for germane processing. Therefore, educators should minimize extraneous load by simplifying presentations, while managing intrinsic load through sequencing complex tasks. This approach optimizes the working memory capacity, facilitating deeper learning.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 교육자들이 외부적 부하를 최소화하려는 주된 이유는 무엇인가?
A. A. 학습 자료 자체의 난이도를 낮추기 위해.
B. B. 더 깊은 자료 처리를 위해 인지 자원을 확보하기 위함이다.
C. C. 작업 기억에서 사용되는 총 정신적 노력의 양을 증가시키기 위해.
D. D. 복잡한 작업의 순서를 정할 필요성을 없애기 위해.
✅ 正确答案
B. To free up cognitive resources for deeper processing of the material.
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