1. The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg
Reading Comprehension Skill

2. Cause and Effect causes and effects are related
An effect is what happens.
A cause is why it happens.

3. Timmy throws the snowball at Johnny.
Cause
Timmy throws the snowball at Johnny.

4. Effect
Johnny gets hit in the face with the snowball that Timmy threw.

5. Cause and Effect
Clue words such as because, so, and cause sometimes signal a cause-effect relationship.
Sometimes you must figure it out for yourself that one thing causes another.
Sometimes a cause has more than one effect.

6. Good readers ask themselves why things happens in a story
Good readers ask themselves why things happens in a story. Asking why will help you figure out cause and effect.
When you see a hippo in the water, you can ask yourself why he is in there. He is probably in the water to cool off. The hippo was hot. He got in the water.
Cause
Effect

7. Think about the story……
Why is the stranger lying in the road?

8. Effect Cause Mr. Bailey hits the stranger with his truck
So the stranger is lying in the road

9. Why did the stranger try to run away when he opened his eyes?
Think about the story…
Why did the stranger try to run away when he opened his eyes?

10. Cause
Effect
The author said the stranger looked up with terror. He must have been afraid
So he tried to run away

11. Think about the story…
What effect does the stranger have on the thermometer?

12. Cause Effect The doctor tries to use the thermometer on the stranger
So the mercury gets stuck at the bottom

13. Think about the story…
What happens when the stranger
blows on the soup?

14. The Stranger blows on the soup.
Effect
Cause
Then a draft is created
The Stranger blows on the soup.
and Mrs. Bailey says “brr…”

15. Think about the story…
What are some of the details that
cause the reader to notice that
the stranger is special?

16. Causes Effect Rabbits allow the stranger close
So we know the stranger is special
The stranger doesn’t sweat or get tired with hard work
The stranger blows hard with all his might on a green leaf and we see an orange leaf in the picture

17. Think about the story… Since the stranger’s visit, the trees around
Bailey’s farm stay green for a week longer
than the other trees. Then, they change
color in one night. Why?

18. Cause Effect The stranger uses his special cold weather power
So the trees around Bailey farm turn differently