Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The volcano erupted unexpectedly, sending ash and lava down its slopes. Villages at the base were buried, and thousands of residents were displaced. Aid organizations rushed to provide emergency shelter. What caused aid organizations to provide emergency shelter?
- Aid organizations planned a shelter-building exercise
- Villages were buried and thousands were displaced by the eruption (Correct answer)
- Residents chose to leave before the eruption occurred
- The volcano's ash improved soil fertility
Correct answer: Villages were buried and thousands were displaced by the eruption
The displacement of thousands caused by the eruption prompted aid organizations to act.
Question 2: Emma skipped breakfast before her morning exam. By the time she sat down to take the test, she felt dizzy and unable to concentrate. She made several careless mistakes she would not normally make. What effect did skipping breakfast have on Emma's performance?
- Emma felt energized and completed the exam quickly
- Emma became dizzy, lost concentration, and made careless mistakes (Correct answer)
- Emma's exam score improved because she was not distracted by food
- Emma fell asleep during the exam
Correct answer: Emma became dizzy, lost concentration, and made careless mistakes
The passage directly traces dizziness, poor concentration, and errors to Emma skipping breakfast.
Question 3: The city planted hundreds of trees along its main avenues. Over the following decades, these trees shaded sidewalks and reduced the urban heat island effect. As a result, energy use for air conditioning fell noticeably. Which word or phrase signals the effect of planting trees?
- planted
- over the following decades
- as a result (Correct answer)
- main avenues
Correct answer: as a result
The phrase 'as a result' directly introduces the effect—reduced energy use—that followed from planting trees.
Question 4: Sam left his bicycle outside in the rain for a week without a cover. Because the metal was exposed to moisture, rust began forming on the chain and handlebars. The bike became difficult to ride smoothly. What is the cause of rust forming on Sam's bicycle?
- Sam rode the bicycle too frequently
- The metal was exposed to moisture from the rain (Correct answer)
- Sam used the wrong type of oil on the chain
- The bicycle was too old to remain functional
Correct answer: The metal was exposed to moisture from the rain
The word 'because' signals that moisture exposure was the direct cause of the rust.
Question 5: Scientists introduced a non-native species of fish into the lake. The fish multiplied rapidly and consumed most of the native plant life. Without adequate plant cover, native fish lost their habitat and their numbers declined sharply. What was the initial cause of the decline in native fish?
- Native fish were overfished by local anglers
- Scientists introduced a non-native species that consumed native plants (Correct answer)
- A drought reduced the lake's water level
- Native plants grew too rapidly and blocked sunlight
Correct answer: Scientists introduced a non-native species that consumed native plants
Introducing the non-native species started the chain: it ate plants, which removed habitat, causing native fish to decline.
Question 6: The student council voted to extend the school library's hours. Therefore, more students were able to visit after classes ended. Librarians reported a twenty-percent increase in book checkouts that semester. What effect did extending library hours have?
- The school council was dissolved after the vote
- Librarians reduced the number of available books
- More students visited after class, leading to a twenty-percent rise in checkouts (Correct answer)
- Students stopped visiting the library during the day
Correct answer: More students visited after class, leading to a twenty-percent rise in checkouts
'Therefore' signals that the extended hours caused more visits and higher checkout numbers.
Question 7: A wildfire swept through the forest, destroying thousands of acres of trees. The loss of root systems caused the soil to erode during the next rainy season. Nearby streams became clogged with silt. What is the effect of the loss of root systems after the wildfire?
- The forest regrew faster than expected
- The soil eroded during the next rainy season (Correct answer)
- Streams cleared of debris after the fire
- Rainfall in the region increased significantly
Correct answer: The soil eroded during the next rainy season
The passage states that the loss of root systems caused soil to erode when rain came.
Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 2
The volcano erupted unexpectedly, sending ash and lava down its slopes.
Villages at the base were buried, and thousands of residents were displaced.
Aid organizations rushed to provide emergency shelter.
What caused aid organizations to provide emergency shelter?