1. Recognizing Cause and Effect Relationships
Why and What
Being able to recognize cause-and-effect relationships can help you better understand life and its events as they unfold around us.

2. Cause An event or action that makes something happen.
It tells us why something happened.
Signal Words
because
bring about
contributed to
due to
the reason for
give rise to
led to
since
on account of
created by

3. Effect A change that takes place as a result of a cause.
It tells us what happened.
Signal Words
as a result
consequently
hence so
outcome
therefore
effect
thus
finally
for this reason
then
Keep in mind the “domino effect.” This is when an effect becomes the cause of another effect.

4. Implied Causes and Effects
If you are looking for the cause: Why did something happen?
If you are looking for the effect: What happened?
Sometimes a passage does not contain any signal words. The cause and effect relationship is implied. You need to use logic and reasoning to answer questions on implied cause and effect.

5. Examples Cause Effect Because Bill’s sister was sad,
he tried to cheer her up.
It was snowing outside
so school was canceled.
The leaves blew all over the yard
so Tom and Sue raked them.
Tom noticed that if he was around dogs,
he sneezed a lot.
Amber could not see the board
so she got glasses.
Mother was not at home
so Sue took a telephone message.
Because Pat felt sick,
she went to the doctor.
Mary scraped her knee
so Dad gave her a Band-Aid.
The noisy class
could not go outside for recess.