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.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es el objetivo principal de minimizar la carga cognitiva extraña en el diseño instruccional?
A. Para aumentar la complejidad del material para estudiantes avanzados.
B. Para permitir que los estudiantes se concentren más en las cargas intrínsecas y relevantes, mejorando así el aprendizaje.
C. Para eliminar toda carga cognitiva para que el aprendizaje se vuelva sin esfuerzo.
D. Para animar a los estudiantes a memorizar información sin un procesamiento profundo.
✅ 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)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first