Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Because the bridge was closed for repairs, commuters had to take a long detour through the town center. Traffic congestion in the town center tripled. Local shops reported an unexpected increase in foot traffic and sales. What was the immediate cause of increased congestion in the town center?
- A new shopping center opened near the town center
- Commuters took a detour through the town center due to bridge repairs (Correct answer)
- Local shops advertised a sale that drew more customers
- Traffic lights in the town center malfunctioned
Correct answer: Commuters took a detour through the town center due to bridge repairs
The bridge closure forced a detour, which directly tripled congestion in the town center.
Question 2: A mild winter led to fewer insects dying off than usual. Consequently, bird populations that feed on those insects increased the following spring. Farmers noticed fewer crop-damaging pests in their fields.
- The mild winter caused crop pests to increase
- Fewer insects dying led to more birds, which reduced crop pests (Correct answer)
- Farmers introduced new pesticides due to the mild winter
- Bird populations decreased because insects were scarce
Correct answer: Fewer insects dying led to more birds, which reduced crop pests
The mild winter preserved insects, which fed more birds; more birds then reduced crop pests.
Question 3: David practiced piano every day for a year. As a result, his finger dexterity improved markedly. He was accepted into a prestigious music conservatory the following autumn. Which phrase introduces the effect of daily practice?
- every day for a year
- as a result (Correct answer)
- the following autumn
- prestigious music conservatory
Correct answer: as a result
'As a result' is the signal phrase that introduces the improvement in dexterity caused by daily practice.
Question 4: The power grid failed during a summer heat wave, leaving much of the city without electricity for eighteen hours. Hospitals switched to backup generators. Without air conditioning, hundreds of elderly residents required medical attention. What was one effect of the power grid failure on residents?
- Elderly residents enjoyed the cooler temperatures without air conditioning
- Hospitals closed their doors to new patients
- Hundreds of elderly residents required medical attention due to heat (Correct answer)
- The city installed new power lines immediately
Correct answer: Hundreds of elderly residents required medical attention due to heat
The loss of power removed air conditioning, which caused elderly residents to suffer heat-related illness.
Question 5: When the new park was built in the neighborhood, property values nearby rose by fifteen percent. Families moved into the area, attracted by the green space. Local cafés and restaurants saw a surge in business. What caused property values to rise?
- New restaurants opened and attracted more visitors
- The construction of the new park in the neighborhood (Correct answer)
- Families left the area, reducing competition for homes
- The government reduced property taxes in the district
Correct answer: The construction of the new park in the neighborhood
The passage directly states that after the new park was built, property values rose.
Question 6: Overfishing depleted the sardine population along the coast. Since sardines are a key food source for larger fish and seabirds, those populations also began to decline. The local fishing industry collapsed within a generation.
- Seabirds ate too many sardines, which caused overfishing
- Overfishing depleted sardines, which reduced larger fish and seabirds, collapsing the fishing industry (Correct answer)
- The fishing industry collapsed first, which led to overfishing
- Larger fish ate all the sardines before fishermen could catch them
Correct answer: Overfishing depleted sardines, which reduced larger fish and seabirds, collapsing the fishing industry
Overfishing started a cascade: fewer sardines reduced species that depended on them, eventually collapsing the industry.
Question 7: The new traffic signal was installed at a dangerous intersection. Subsequently, the number of accidents at that location dropped by sixty percent in the first year. Residents praised the city council for acting.
- Accidents increased because drivers ignored the new signal
- The city council removed the signal after complaints
- Accidents dropped sixty percent after the traffic signal was installed (Correct answer)
- Residents demanded the intersection be closed permanently
Correct answer: Accidents dropped sixty percent after the traffic signal was installed
'Subsequently' signals that the sixty-percent accident drop was a direct effect of installing the traffic signal.
Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 3
Because the bridge was closed for repairs, commuters had to take a long detour through the town center.
Traffic congestion in the town center tripled.
Local shops reported an unexpected increase in foot traffic and sales.
What was the immediate cause of increased congestion in the town center?