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 reduce extraneous load, which is unnecessary mental effort caused by poor presentation. For instance, when a diagram is accompanied by redundant text, learners may split their attention between the two sources, increasing extraneous load. However, intrinsic load, which is inherent to the complexity of the subject matter, cannot be eliminated. Effective teaching strategies often aim to manage intrinsic load by breaking down complex tasks into smaller, sequential steps. Recent studies have shown that optimizing cognitive load can significantly improve problem-solving performance, especially in STEM fields where abstract concepts are prevalent.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 외재적 부하와 내재적 부하의 주요 차이점은 무엇인가?
A. 외부 부하는 학습에 유익하지만, 내재적 부하는 그렇지 않다.
B. 외부 부하는 더 나은 교수 설계를 통해 줄일 수 있는 반면, 내재적 부하는 자료 자체에 내재된 것이다.
C. 내재적 부하는 열악한 제시 방식에 의해 발생하며, 외재적 부하는 과업의 복잡성에 기인한다.
D. 두 유형의 부하는 교육 환경에서 관리하기에 동일하게 어렵다.
✅ 正确答案
Extraneous load can be reduced by better instructional design, while intrinsic load is inherent to 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