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 materials are designed to minimize extraneous load, allowing learners to focus on intrinsic load and germane load. Intrinsic load is the inherent difficulty of the material itself, while germane load involves the processes of schema construction and automation. Research has shown that poorly designed multimedia presentations, which split attention between text and graphics, can increase extraneous load, thereby hindering comprehension. Conversely, integrating related information spatially and temporally can reduce unnecessary cognitive burden, facilitating deeper learning. This has significant implications for curriculum design, especially in STEM fields where complex problem-solving is required.
❓ According to the passage, what is the primary benefit of reducing extraneous cognitive load in instructional design?
A. A. It allows learners to process more information simultaneously.
B. B. It enables learners to concentrate on the inherent difficulty and schema-building aspects of the material.
C. C. It eliminates the need for working memory in learning.
D. D. It increases the speed of information delivery to learners.
✅ 正确答案
B. It enables learners to concentrate on the inherent difficulty and schema-building aspects 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