Cause and Effect Relationships Flashcards
7 cards from real Reading Comprehension practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cause and Effect Relationships flashcards as text
Heavy rain fell for three days straight, saturating the soil. Because the ground could no longer absorb water, rivers overflowed their banks and flooded nearby neighborhoods. Residents were forced to evacuate their homes. What caused residents to evacuate their homes?
Answer: Rivers flooded nearby neighborhoods after the ground became saturated
The passage states that rivers overflowing—caused by saturated ground—led directly to the evacuation.
Maria forgot to water her potted plant for two weeks during a summer heat wave. As a result, the leaves turned yellow and began to droop. Eventually the plant died. What is the effect of Maria forgetting to water her plant?
Answer: The leaves turned yellow, drooped, and the plant eventually died
The passage directly states that forgetting to water the plant caused the leaves to yellow, droop, and the plant to die.
Scientists discovered that the coral reef near the island had bleached significantly. They traced this back to rising ocean temperatures. Since coral cannot survive in abnormally warm water for extended periods, large sections of the reef died. Which signal word best indicates the cause-and-effect relationship in this passage?
Answer: since
The word 'since' introduces the causal explanation for why the coral died.
The factory upstream released chemicals into the river. Consequently, fish populations downstream dropped by forty percent within a year. Local fishing communities reported drastically reduced catches. What was the direct effect of the factory releasing chemicals?
Answer: Fish populations downstream dropped by forty percent
The passage uses 'consequently' to link the chemical release to the forty-percent drop in fish populations.
After spending hours reading in dim light, Jared developed a painful headache. He also noticed that his eyes felt strained and dry. He resolved to use a brighter lamp in the future. What caused Jared's headache and eye strain?
Answer: Jared read for hours in dim light
The opening phrase 'after spending hours reading in dim light' identifies the cause of both the headache and eye strain.
During the Industrial Revolution, factories consumed enormous quantities of coal. This led to thick smog blanketing cities like London. The smog was so severe that it caused widespread respiratory illness among city residents. Which of the following best describes a cause-and-effect chain in this passage?
Answer: Coal consumption → smog → respiratory illness
The passage establishes a chain: burning coal caused smog, which in turn caused respiratory illness.
The drought lasted an entire summer, leaving crops withered in the fields. Farmers lost most of their harvest as a result. Food prices in the region rose sharply the following autumn. What was an effect of farmers losing most of their harvest?
Answer: Food prices in the region rose sharply the following autumn
The passage states that food prices rose sharply 'as a result' of the harvest loss caused by the drought.