Final answer:
Students tend to focus on the task that is highlighted as most important, whether it's developing a focused essay, concentrating on key parts of an artwork, or applying practical skills in geography.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a student is given a task with two task foci, the one that students pay most attention to is the one that is highlighted as the most important or interests them the most. This can be influenced by the way the task is presented and the specific instructions given. For instance, when working on a focused essay with a clear thesis statement, students are likely to pay more attention to developing their argument around it. Teachers can emphasize certain aspects of the task, such as key portions of an illustration in artwork, to help students concentrate on what's most important. In geography, instead of encouraging rote memorization, educators can emphasize the application of spatial logic and tools to solve problems, thus guiding students to focus on learning how to 'do geography' as opposed to just learning facts about it.