Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When the government raised the minimum wage, low-income workers had more money to spend. This led to increased consumer spending in local businesses. Several small shops in the area hired additional staff to meet demand.
- Small shops raised their prices, reducing consumer spending
- Higher wages gave workers more money, boosting local business and hiring (Correct answer)
- The government reduced taxes to compensate for the wage increase
- Consumer spending fell because workers saved their extra income
Correct answer: Higher wages gave workers more money, boosting local business and hiring
The wage increase caused more spending, which caused businesses to grow and hire.
Question 2: The athlete injured her knee during training in March. Because of the injury, she missed three months of practice. Her coach worried she might not recover fully before the championship.
- The athlete injured her knee because she skipped too many practices
- The coach caused the injury by overtraining the athlete
- The knee injury caused her to miss three months of practice (Correct answer)
- Missing practice led to the knee injury in March
Correct answer: The knee injury caused her to miss three months of practice
'Because of the injury' signals that the knee injury was the direct cause of her missing three months of training.
Question 3: A hurricane made landfall late on Tuesday evening. Due to the powerful winds, dozens of trees were uprooted across the city. Roads were blocked, and emergency services struggled to reach affected areas.
- Emergency services caused roads to be blocked
- Trees uprooted before the hurricane arrived
- The hurricane's winds uprooted trees, blocking roads and impeding emergency services (Correct answer)
- Roads were blocked because emergency vehicles were too large
Correct answer: The hurricane's winds uprooted trees, blocking roads and impeding emergency services
'Due to' introduces the effect of the hurricane's winds, which started a chain of blocked roads and hampered response.
Question 4: Scientists discovered that a specific bacteria in the gut produces a chemical that improves mood. As a result, researchers are exploring probiotic treatments for depression. Several clinical trials are now underway.
- Depression caused the bacteria to produce the mood-improving chemical
- Clinical trials produced the bacteria scientists discovered
- Discovering the mood-improving bacteria led researchers to explore probiotic treatments (Correct answer)
- Probiotics were proven to cure depression before the research began
Correct answer: Discovering the mood-improving bacteria led researchers to explore probiotic treatments
'As a result' signals that the discovery of the bacteria directly caused researchers to explore probiotic treatments.
Question 5: The river flooded the basement of the town's only grocery store. The store had to close for repairs for two weeks. Residents drove to the next town to buy food during this period.
- Residents drove to the next town, causing the store to flood
- The grocery store flooded because residents left town
- The flood forced the store to close, so residents traveled to buy groceries elsewhere (Correct answer)
- The town built a second grocery store after the flood
Correct answer: The flood forced the store to close, so residents traveled to buy groceries elsewhere
The flood caused the closure, and the closure caused residents to shop in the next town.
Question 6: The new speed bumps installed on Elm Street slowed traffic significantly. Therefore, children playing near the road were much safer. Parents in the neighborhood organized a petition to add speed bumps on Oak Street as well.
- Children's safety declined after the speed bumps were installed
- Speed bumps slowed traffic, improving child safety and inspiring a petition for more (Correct answer)
- The petition on Oak Street caused speed bumps to be built on Elm Street first
- Parents opposed the speed bumps because they slowed their commute
Correct answer: Speed bumps slowed traffic, improving child safety and inspiring a petition for more
'Therefore' links the reduced speed to improved safety, which then motivated the parents' petition.
Question 7: Because the bakery started using locally sourced flour, the quality of its bread improved noticeably. Customers began returning more frequently and posting positive reviews online. The bakery's revenue increased by thirty percent over six months.
- Positive reviews online caused the bakery to switch to local flour
- Revenue increases caused the bread quality to improve
- Using local flour improved bread quality, attracting more customers and boosting revenue (Correct answer)
- Customers stopped visiting because local flour was more expensive
Correct answer: Using local flour improved bread quality, attracting more customers and boosting revenue
'Because' introduces the cause: local flour improved quality, which drove customer loyalty and revenue growth.
Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Relationships 5
When the government raised the minimum wage, low-income workers had more money to spend.
This led to increased consumer spending in local businesses.
Several small shops in the area hired additional staff to meet demand.