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 cognitive load, allowing learners to focus on intrinsic and germane loads. Intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity of the subject matter, 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 contributes to learning. Researchers have argued that poorly designed instruction, such as redundant text alongside diagrams, can increase extraneous load, thereby hindering comprehension. Conversely, well-structured materials that integrate visuals with concise text can reduce unnecessary mental effort, enhancing the learner's ability to construct schemas and transfer knowledge to new contexts.
❓ According to the passage, what is the primary goal of minimizing extraneous cognitive load in instructional design?
A. To increase the complexity of the subject matter for advanced learners
B. To allow learners to focus more on intrinsic and germane loads, thereby improving learning
C. To eliminate all cognitive load so that learning becomes effortless
D. To encourage learners to memorize information without deep processing
✅ 正确答案
To allow learners to focus more on intrinsic and germane loads, thereby improving learning
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)
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