Logical Reasoning · Statements & Arguments
Cause and Effect — Questions & Answers
Cause and effect questions give two events and ask how they are related: one causes the other, both share a cause, or they are unrelated. Look at timing and whether one explains the other.
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How to approach
For each pair ask: could I have led to II, or II to I? Check the time order (a cause comes first). If neither leads to the other, ask whether one event (a storm, a strike, fog) explains both (a common cause) or whether they are unrelated (separate causes).
Find the option that directly explains the effect described. A good cause fits the scale and timing of the effect (one day, many people → something shared).
Ask what normally follows from the event. The most likely effect is the direct, expected result, not a far-fetched or opposite one.
In each pair, check that the first event leads to the second. Order matters: the cause must come first.
5 solved Cause and Effect questions
Statements:
I. Schools in the coastal district were closed for three days.
II. Fishermen were told not to go out to sea.
What is the relationship between the two statements?Solution — answer E
Common cause. A cyclone warning explains both; the school closures didn't cause the fishing ban, or the other way round.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Read the Statements
We have two statements. Statement I talks about schools closing in a coastal district for three days. Statement II mentions fishermen being advised not to go out to sea. Both events are related to coastal areas.
Step 2: Check Causation
Let's see if one statement directly causes the other. Did schools closing cause fishermen to stay ashore? No. Did fishermen staying ashore cause schools to close? No. They don't seem to be cause and effect of each other.
Step 3: Find Common Reason
Since neither statement causes the other, consider if both are results of something else. A severe weather event, like a cyclone warning or a storm, would explain both. Such a warning would lead to school closures for safety and advise fishermen to stay in port.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (E) I and II are both effects of a common cause. Both the school closures and the fishing ban are effects of a shared underlying event, such as a severe weather warning.
Many residents of a colony fell ill with stomach infections on the same day.
What is the most likely cause of this?Solution — answer C
A shared illness on one day points to something everyone consumed, so a contaminated common drinking-water supply is the most likely cause. The other options can't cause stomach infections.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Analyze the situation
Many residents of the same colony fell ill with stomach infections on the same day. This is a key detail, as it points to a common cause affecting everyone at roughly the same time.
Step 2: Look for common links
When a large group experiences the same illness simultaneously, it's highly probable they were exposed to a shared source. Consider what all residents in a colony typically share or consume.
Step 3: Evaluate potential causes
Stomach infections are often caused by contaminated food or water. If many people get sick on the same day, a shared source of contamination, like a common water supply, is a very strong candidate.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (C) Their common drinking-water supply was contaminated. A shared illness on one day strongly points to something everyone consumed, making a contaminated common drinking-water supply the most likely cause. The other options are unrelated to stomach infections.
The government sharply raised the tax on cigarettes.
What is the most likely effect of this?Solution — answer B
A higher tax raises prices, so cigarette sales are likely to fall. Cheaper cigarettes, more smokers and higher farm income are the opposite of what a tax does, and hospitals closing doesn't follow.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Understand the Tax Increase
The question states the government sharply raised the tax on cigarettes. Think about what happens when a tax is added to a product.
Step 2: Price Impact
A higher tax on cigarettes means that the cost of production and distribution increases, which is then passed on to the consumer. This directly leads to a higher retail price for cigarettes.
Step 3: Effect on Sales
When the price of a product, especially one like cigarettes, becomes significantly higher, consumers are generally less willing or able to buy as much. This usually leads to a decrease in demand and overall sales.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (B) Cigarette sales are likely to fall. A higher tax makes cigarettes more expensive, which typically leads to fewer purchases and a drop in sales.
In which pair is the FIRST event the cause of the SECOND?
Solution — answer C
In "the river flooded — the crops were destroyed", the flood caused the crop damage. In the rain pair the order is reversed (the rain caused the flooding), and the other pairs are unrelated.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Understand the Question
We need to find a pair of events where the first event directly causes the second event. Think about which event happens first and leads to the other.
Step 2: Analyze Event Pairs
Let's look at each pair and determine if a cause-and-effect relationship exists, and in which direction. Some pairs might not have any connection at all.
Step 3: Check Cause and Effect
For example, if 'heavy rain fell' and 'the fields were flooded', the rain caused the flooding. So, the rain is the cause and the flooding is the effect. We are looking for 'Cause — Effect'.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (C) The river flooded — the crops in the fields were destroyed. Here, the river flooding is the direct cause of the crops being destroyed.
Statements:
I. Heavy rain lashed the city all night.
II. Several roads in the city were waterlogged the next morning.
What is the relationship between the two statements?Solution — answer A
I causes II. The night-long rain led to the waterlogged roads the next morning.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Understand Statements
First, let's look at each statement. Statement I describes a weather event: heavy rain all night. Statement II describes a consequence: waterlogged roads the next morning.
Step 2: Connect the Events
Now, consider if there's a natural connection between them. If it rains heavily all night, it's very common for water to accumulate, especially on roads, leading to waterlogging.
Step 3: Identify Cause and Effect
It's clear that the heavy rain (Statement I) would directly lead to the roads becoming waterlogged (Statement II). Therefore, Statement I is the cause, and Statement II is its effect.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (A) I is the cause, and II is its effect. The night-long heavy rain directly resulted in the roads being waterlogged the following morning.
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