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?

Accepted Answer

Rivers flooded nearby neighborhoods after the ground became saturated

Answer

The passage states that rivers overflowing—caused by saturated ground—led directly to the evacuation.

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 passage directly states that forgetting to water the plant caused the leaves to yellow, droop, and the plant to die.

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

The word 'since' introduces the causal explanation for why the coral died.

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 passage uses 'consequently' to link the chemical release to the forty-percent drop in fish populations.

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

The opening phrase 'after spending hours reading in dim light' identifies the cause of both the headache and eye strain.

Reading Comprehension Practice Test

Reading Comprehension Practice Test

Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 1