How to Approach Cause & Effect Questions:
Follow these four techniques when you answer questions that ask you to analyze cause and effect.
Identify the Cause and Effect Relationship in the Passage
- What led to what? Cause and effect questions ask you to identify why something happened (the cause) and what resulted from it (the effect). These questions often involve two parts of the passage that are connected logically.
- Find clue words: Look for transition words that signal a cause and effect relationship, such as “because,” “therefore,” “as a result,” “since,” “due to,” “so,” “consequently,” or “leads to.”
Clarify the Sequence of Events
- What happened first? Often, understanding the sequence of events will help you figure out the cause and effect. Make sure you can distinguish between what happened first (the cause) and what followed (the effect).
- Don’t confuse correlation with causation: Just because two events happen in sequence doesn’t always mean one caused the other. Be sure the passage explicitly suggests that one event led to the other, rather than just mentioning two events that occurred together.
Analyze Both Sides of the Relationship
- Cause: This is the reason something happens. It answers the question “why?”
- Effect: This is the result or outcome. It answers the question “what happened as a result?”
Eliminate Unrelated Answer Choices
- Stay focused on the connection: Some choices may present facts or information from the passage, but they might not directly relate to the cause and effect relationship. Be sure that both parts of the relationship (cause and effect) are clearly tied together.
Key Tip: Always look for a clear cause and effect connection in the text. The correct answer will directly explain why something happened and what happened as a result.