CAUSE & EFFECT
What is the cause in this sentence?
“Because the temperature dropped below freezing, the roads became icy.”
Cause: the temperature dropped below freezing.
Identify the problem and solution in this sentence:
“Students struggled to stay focused, so the teacher introduced short movement breaks.”
Problem: students struggled to stay focused.
Solution: the teacher introduced short movement breaks.
Is this a fact or an opinion?
“The Earth orbits around the Sun.”
Fact.
Which event happened first?
The storm flooded the streets.
Which word signals cause and effect?
A) However
B) Because
C) For example
B) Because
Read this passage: “When factories increased production, pollution levels rose sharply.”
Explain the effect and how it’s linked to the cause.
Effect: pollution levels rose sharply.
Link: increased factory production (cause) led to more emissions, which raised pollution levels.
A community faces rising energy costs. List two possible solutions and explain how each might address the problem.
Use energy-efficient appliances: reduces overall energy consumption and lowers bills.
Invest in renewable energy (like solar panels): decreases reliance on expensive traditional energy sources.
Determine which statement is a fact and which is an opinion:
“Passing the GED increases employment opportunities.” = Fact (can be supported with data).
“GED testing helps people achieve better jobs.” = Opinion (subjective and depends on interpretation).
Arrange these steps in order:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Mix the ingredients.
Bake the cake.
Let the cake cool.
Find the signal word:
“I wanted to go to the park; however, it started raining.”
What type of relationship does it show?
Signal word: however
It shows contrast.
A city banned plastic bags, and litter in parks decreased by 60%.
Explain how this situation shows a cause-and-effect relationship, and discuss whether other factors might have influenced the result.
The cause is the ban on plastic bags; the effect is a 60% decrease in park litter. This shows cause and effect because removing a common source of trash reduced waste. Other factors could include increased public awareness, better waste management, or stricter enforcement.
Analyze this scenario: “To reduce air pollution, the government promoted electric vehicles, but the program faced battery disposal issues.”
Explain how the initial solution created a new problem and suggest a more effective strategy.
The solution (promoting electric vehicles) reduced air pollution but created a new problem: battery disposal issues. A better strategy could include developing safe battery recycling programs or investing in cleaner battery technology alongside EV promotion.
Read: “Online learning is ruining education because students need face-to-face instruction.”
Explain why this is an opinion and what kind of evidence could strengthen or weaken it.
It’s an opinion because it makes a judgment (“ruining education”) without proven evidence. It could be strengthened by data showing lower outcomes in online learning, or weakened by studies showing equal or better performance compared to in-person learning.
Explain why chronological structure is important when writing a personal narrative or autobiography. Give one example of how changing the order could confuse the reader.
Chronological structure helps readers follow events in the order they happened, making the story clear. For example, describing graduation before explaining starting school would confuse readers about the timeline.
Read this passage:
“Factories opened across the region, soon leading to rapid urban growth. Consequently, local farmland decreased.”
Identify two signal words and explain what text structure they help reveal.
Signal words: “leading to” and “Consequently”
They show a cause-and-effect structure, linking factory growth to urban expansion and farmland loss.