Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 1

Question 1

Heavy rain fell for three days straight, saturating the soil.
Because the ground could no longer absorb water, rivers overflowed their banks and flooded nearby neighborhoods.
Residents were forced to evacuate their homes.
What caused residents to evacuate their homes?

What caused residents to evacuate their homes?

Accepted Answer

Rivers flooded nearby neighborhoods after the ground became saturated

Answer

The rain fell for only one day before stopping

Answer

Residents chose to leave because they disliked rainy weather

Answer

The rivers dried up during the storm

Question 2

Maria forgot to water her potted plant for two weeks during a summer heat wave. As a result, the leaves turned yellow and began to droop. Eventually the plant died.

What is the effect of Maria forgetting to water her plant?

Accepted Answer

The leaves turned yellow, drooped, and the plant eventually died

Answer

The plant grew taller and produced flowers

Answer

The heat wave ended sooner than expected

Answer

Maria decided to buy a new pot for the plant

Question 3

Scientists discovered that the coral reef near the island had bleached significantly. They traced this back to rising ocean temperatures. Since coral cannot survive in abnormally warm water for extended periods, large sections of the reef died.

Which signal word best indicates the cause-and-effect relationship in this passage?

Accepted Answer

since

Answer

discovered

Answer

near

Answer

significantly

Question 4

The factory upstream released chemicals into the river. Consequently, fish populations downstream dropped by forty percent within a year. Local fishing communities reported drastically reduced catches.

What was the direct effect of the factory releasing chemicals?

Accepted Answer

Fish populations downstream dropped by forty percent

Answer

The factory moved its operations to a new location

Answer

Local fishermen increased their efforts

Answer

The river's water level rose significantly

Question 5

After spending hours reading in dim light, Jared developed a painful headache. He also noticed that his eyes felt strained and dry. He resolved to use a brighter lamp in the future.

What caused Jared's headache and eye strain?

Accepted Answer

Jared read for hours in dim light

Answer

Jared spent too much time outdoors in the sun

Answer

Jared forgot to wear his glasses

Answer

Jared's headache caused him to read in dim light

Question 6

During the Industrial Revolution, factories consumed enormous quantities of coal. This led to thick smog blanketing cities like London. The smog was so severe that it caused widespread respiratory illness among city residents.

Which of the following best describes a cause-and-effect chain in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Coal consumption → smog → respiratory illness

Answer

Respiratory illness → smog → coal consumption

Answer

Smog → coal consumption → Industrial Revolution

Answer

Industrial Revolution → respiratory illness → coal consumption

Question 7

The drought lasted an entire summer, leaving crops withered in the fields. Farmers lost most of their harvest as a result. Food prices in the region rose sharply the following autumn.

What was an effect of farmers losing most of their harvest?

Accepted Answer

Food prices in the region rose sharply the following autumn

Answer

The drought ended early due to farmer intervention

Answer

Crops grew stronger in the following spring

Answer

Farmers increased irrigation to save their crops