How can you identify cause/effect relationships in a text?

• A. Look for signal words like because, therefore, due to; trace how one event leads to another.
• B. Ignore signal words and rely on guesswork.
• C. Only consider the first event mentioned.
• D. Assume all relationships are causal without evidence.

Answer: (A)

To identify cause/effect in a text, focus on the links that connect events or actions. Look for signal words that signal reasons and results—because, due to, since, therefore, thus, as a result, consequently, and so on—and then trace how one event leads to another. Notice not only what happened, but why it happened and what happened as a result. Sometimes the link is explicit with a signal word; other times you infer it from the sequence and the outcomes described, checking that the outcome follows from the stated cause.

Other approaches don’t fit well because ignoring signal words breaks the clear connection between events, and guessing without evidence isn’t reliable. Limiting yourself to the first event can miss later causes or effects, and assuming every relationship is causal leads to overreach without support from the text.

So the best approach is to look for those cue words and carefully trace how one event leads to the next.