Study Notes

CAUSE & EFFECT

Study Notes (CAUSE & EFFECT)

Cause and Effect is an important topic under Logical Reasoning and questions on this topic are
often asked in many competitive exams.

In this section candidates are asked to determine whether a given event is the cause or the
effect of some other event.

Basics of Cause and Effect:

Cause are the conditions under which these events (Effects) happen.

Effects do not happen naturally, there is always a cause or reason behind an effect.

For example: Sale of Air-conditioner increases during Summers

In the above statement “Increase in AC sale “is an effect and this effect took place because of
the cause that “It’s too hot in Summer and AC cools down the temperature”

So one event can cause another if it is scientifically proven or it is logical to expect.

Types of Causes:
Immediate Cause: An immediate cause means a cause that immediately precedes the effect.
It’s the most proximate one.

Principal cause: It is the most important reason or cause behind an effect.

Independent cause: This type of cause is not related to the effect.

Example:

Effect: One of the workers got a head injury while working at a construction site

Immediate Cause: Because he was not wearing helmet

Principal Cause: There was lack of supervision (It’s the main cause)

Tips to solve Cause & Effect Questions:

 We must remember that an effect always takes place after a cause and not vice-versa.
They may or may not be sequential in the questions asked in exams.

Example: I) The Child was crying II) The child was hungry

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Study Notes (CAUSE & EFFECT)

In the above statement Child was hungry is the cause whereas child was crying is an
effect. He was crying because he was hungry.

 Use connectors such as “Because”, “So” to build a relationship between the sentences
and find out which is the cause and which one is the effect.

Example: In the above statements discussed above we can say The child was crying
“Because” the child was hungry or the child was hungry “So” the child was crying. They make
sense

Let’s try saying The child was crying “So” the child was hungry. It doesn’t make sense
since no body cries without a cause. He must be hungry that is he would be crying.

 We can check the “tense” of the sentences to build a relationship.

Example: I) India won several medals in Olympic last year

II) Sports institutes have received many applications this year.

In the above example, statement I is in past tense which makes it a “Cause” since cause
will never come after effect. Statement II is in present tense which makes it an “Effect”.
This rule may not always be applicable, there may be cases which negates this rule, you
shall have to apply your common sense in such scenarios.

 Even if you are not able to make a relationship with the technicalities, you must use your
common sense to solve Logical reasoning problems.

Format of the Questions:

Read both the statements and decide which of the following answer choice correctly depicts the
relationship between these two statements.

Mark answer

(A) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.

(B) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.

(C) If both the statements I and II are independent causes.

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Study Notes (CAUSE & EFFECT)

(D) If both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes.

(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

Examples:
1) Statements:

I)Plastic is Non-Biodegradable and thus causes pollution.

II)Government has banned plastic bags in the country.

(A) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.

(B) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.

(C) If both the statements I and II are independent causes.

(D) If both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes.

(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

Answer: A

Explanations: Government has banned plastic bags in the country “Because” Plastic is non-
biodegradable and thus causes pollution

2) Statements:

I) Yoga helps in building immunity in body.

II) There is a demand for fast food amongst youngsters.

(A) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.

(B) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.

(C) If both the statements I and II are independent causes.

(D) If both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes.

(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

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Study Notes (CAUSE & EFFECT)

Answer: C

Explanations: we can see here there is no relationship between the two statements nor are
they effects of some cause. Both the statements are causes which will lead to effects.

Since “Yoga builds immunity” is the cause it may lead to an effect like more and more people
enrolling at Yoga centers.

Since “Fast food is in demand” it may lead to an effect like more fast food centers getting
opened near colleges

3) Statements:

I) Holiday homework has been banned for students in standard I & II.

II) Schools have banned CNG buses.

(A) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.

(B) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.

(C) If both the statements I and II are independent causes.

(D) If both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes.

(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

Answer: D

Explanations:

Though both the statements are the effects of some cause but those causes are not common.
Each one of them have separate cause.

In statement I, Holiday homework being banned may be the effect of the cause that “Standard I
& II kids are too small and homework creates much pressure on them.

In statement II the effect “CNG Buses being banned” may be due to the cause that “CNG buses
are not safe for children” or may be due to some other reason.

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Study Notes (CAUSE & EFFECT)

4) Statements:

I) Many students in the city were late for CAT exam because of heavy rainfall.

II) Heavy Rainfall in the city resulted in delay of many flights.

(A) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.

(B) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.

(C) If both the statements I and II are independent causes.

(D) If both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes.

(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

Answer: E

Explanations: Both are the effects, students getting late and delay in flights but their reason or
cause is same that is “Heavy rainfall”.