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Cause & Effect
The main aim of cause and effect questions is to derive the relationship between two given
statements. The relationship that needs to be tested is whether the statements are causally
related to each other. This means we need to find out whether one of the statements is a direct
cause of the other or conversely whether one of the statements is a direct effect of the other.

Cause- Effect Examples

 The boss was busy. Her secretary took a message.
 Cars needed more time to stop. The streets were snow-packed and icy.
 I have 5 cavities. I never brush my teeth.
 We received seven inches of rain in four hours. The underpass was flooded.
 We were late for work. The alarm was not set.
 A tornado blew the roof off the house. The family had to find another place to live.
 A child is obese. He eats only junk food and never does anything active.
 I was not looking above while crossing the road. I almost got hit by a car.
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What Are Causes?
Causes are the conditions under which an event occurs. For example, can you guess the
causes for the following?
1. The police increasing security around the President’s house.
2. Lots of people buying a particular expensive brand of washing machines around
Diwali.
Easily, we can guess causes for the above events.
1. There were reports of threats against the President.
2. There was a high discount or sale for that brand during Diwali.
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1. Statements:
I. The performance of most of the students in final exam of class X in the schools run
by the Government was excellent.
II. Many teachers of the Government schools left the school and joined private
schools.
A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Ans: D
The students of government schools performing well in the examinations and the
teachers of government schools leaving their jobs to join private schools are two
separate situations that must have been triggered by independent causes.
2.) Statements:
I. The prices of vegetables have been increased considerably during this summer.
II. There is tremendous increase in the temperature during this summer thereby
damaging crops greatly.
A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Ans: B: Clearly, damage to crops due to high temperature may have resulted in a
short supply of vegetables and hence an increase in their prices.
3. Statements:
I. There is unprecedented increase in the number of young unemployed in comparison
to the previous year.
II. A large number of candidates submitted applications against an advertisement for
the post of manager issued by a bank

A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Ans: A: An increase in the number of unemployed youth is bound to draw in huge
crowds for a single vacancy.

4. Statements:
I. The employees of the biggest bank in the country have given an indefinite strike call
starting from third of the next month.
II. The employees of the Central Government have withdrawn their week long
demonstrations.
A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Ans: D: The employees of a bank going on strike and the government employees
calling off their protest seem to be two independent events that might have been
triggered by individual causes.
5.) Statements:
I. The police authority has recently issued a lookout notice against a group of house
breakers in a locality.
II. The citizens group in the locality have started night vigil in the area.
A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Ans : E: Both the statements are clearly backed by a common cause, which is clearly
an increase in the number of thefts in the locality.
6.) Statements:
I. The school authority has asked the X Std. students to attend special classes to be
conducted on Sundays.
II. The parents of the X Std. students have withdrawn their wards from attending
private tuitions conducted on Sundays.
A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Ans : A: It is quite evident that the parents have instructed their wards to abstain
from private tuitions on Sundays and attend special classes organised by the school.
7. Statements:
I. India has surpassed the value of tea exports this year over all the earlier years due to
an increase in demand for quality tea in the European market.
II. There is an increase in demand of coffee in the domestic market during the last two
years.
A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Answer: Option C
The two statements discuss two separate statistical and generalised results.
8: Statements:
I. A teacher caught some students, cheating in the class.
II. Principal gave punishment to those students.

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Ans A
Because, teacher caught cheating while few students cheated at the class and because
of the same reason principal asked those students for punishment.
9. Statements:
I. China became a hotspot for global manufacturing in the late 80s, and continues to be
so till the present.
II. China has abundant sources of cheap manpower and natural resources – both of
which are essential for industrial growth.
(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Ans: B
Solution: The reason for China becoming a hotspot for manufacturing globally has been
stated in Statement II. The factors of cheap labour and abundance of natural resources
contributed to the industrial growth of China in the late 80s and helped it become a
manufacturing hub. Thus, statement II is the cause and statement I is the effect. Here,
the reason is a principal cause. The words ‘till the present’ also gives an indication that
statement 1 cannot be the cause because the cause should always precede the effect.
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10. Statements:
I. The university authority has instructed all the colleges under its jurisdiction to ban
use of all phones inside the college premises.
II. Majority, of the teachers of the colleges signed a joint petition to the university
complaining the disturbances caused by cell phone ring-tones inside the classrooms.

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Ans B Clearly, the university's decision came as a sequel to the complaint received by it
from the college teachers against use of mobile phones in the college premises

11. Statements:
(I) For the previous few months, the price of gasoline and diesel on the domestic
market has not altered.
(II) In the past several months, there has been a significant increase in the price of
crude oil on the global market.
(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Solution: The domestic market’s stagnating gasoline and diesel prices and the global
market’s rise in those prices must be supported by independent causes.
Hence, the correct answer will be D.

12. Statements:
I. There is a possibility of snowfall in the coming days.
II. The handloom industries increased their production.
(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Ans: A
Solution: The possibility of snowfall in the near future means that people will need to
use woollen wear. To meet this increased demand, handloom industries will step up
their production. Thus statement I is the cause and statement II is the effect. This is an
immediate cause. Because of the possibility of snowfall, the handloom industry
increased the production.
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13. Statements:
I. Anu was not granted a visa to the US.
II. Anu’s flight to Denver was delayed by at least fifteen hours

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Ans: D
Solution: Sometimes to answer the question, we need to differentiate between what is
a cause and what is an effect. Here, both statements are clearly effects. Anu might not
have been granted a visa due to some reason (like withholding information, or her
having pending criminal cases). However she had no part to play in her flight getting
delayed. Indeed, flights don’t get delayed because of one person not having her visa.
These things are checked at the immigration department either at the departing airport
or the arriving airport. The delay must have been caused by some other reason (like
weather, or crowded airways or runways). These two reasons cannot be related even
though the situations are related to the same person.

Tip: This is a good example to show that even if the situations are related to the same
subject, they might not have a cause and effect relationship between them.
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14. Statements:
I. Aamir’s movie has crossed the 100 crore mark.
II. His movie has been nominated for the Oscars.

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Ans: E
Solution: Here, the reason for the movie being nominated is not that it has crossed the
100 crore mark. Vice versa is also not true. Hence, there is a cause for the movie being
nominated and there is a cause for it crossing the 100 crore mark. The possible common
cause is that the movie was very good and therefore appreciated by both public and the
critics.
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15. Statements:.
I. For the majority of the week, all the local schools had to be closed.
II. Many parents have withdrawn their kids out of the neighborhood schools.

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Solution: The decision to close the schools for a week and the parent’s decision to
withdraw their children from the neighborhood schools are independent concerns
that must have been brought on by various individual causes. These are independent
effects.
Hence, the correct answer is (D).
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16. Statements:
(I) According to trade agreements with other nations, the government imported
a lot of sugar in recent months.
(II) In recent months, sugar prices have dropped significantly in the domestic
market.

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Solution:
An increase in supply always leads to a reduction in prices.
Clearly statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.
Hence, the correct answer is (A).
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17: Statements:
1. Ramesh had not paid the rent for this month.
2. Ramesh has not arrived home yet from the office.

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Ans: D
Solution:
He has not paid the rent because he did not get his salary.
Here, ‘not getting the salary’ maybe the cause of the effect ‘not paying rent’. Hence, 1 is
an effect. Clearly, this makes more sense than this being a cause as nobody would
intentionally default on paying his rent.
Also, consider the following example:
He has not arrived yet maybe because of the traffic.
Hence, ‘he has not arrived yet’ is the effect. This also makes more sense than it being a
cause because there must be a reason for being later than expected.
These two effects are independent of each other and apply to different situations.
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18. Statements:
(I) For the past few years, the district’s literacy rate has been rising.
(II) From last few years the district administration organized a thorough training
program for the people on the literacy campaign.

(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; and
(E) If both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.
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Solution: , the correct answer is (B).
Clearly, the district administration’s relentless efforts in this regard may be directly
credited with the rise in the literacy rate. Here, statement II is the cause, and
statement I is its effect clearly.
19. Statements:
I. Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the unlawful gathering of large number of
people.
II. The citizens' forum called a general strike in protest against the government.

A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Answer: Option B
Clearly, the people's mass protest against the government might have instigated the
police to indulge in lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

20. Statements:
I. The life today is too fast, demanding and full of variety in all aspects which at times
leads to stressful situations.
II. Number of suicide cases among teenagers is on increase.
A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
C. Both the statements I and II are independent causes
D. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
E. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
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Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Stress in everyday life is a major cause of frustration among the youth and is bound to
lead them to take harsh steps as suicide.