Cause and Effect Expressions

Topic - 12

CAUSE AND EFFECT EXPRESSIONS

INTRODUCTION

Cause and Effect is a relationship between events or things, where one is the result of the other or others. This is a combination of action and reaction. Something happens (a cause) that leads to an effect. These types of sentences are in common use in technical writing. The common 'cause words’ are because, since and as. Certain phrases used for the same purpose are - in view of the fact, on account of the fact, owing to the fact, the reason why, and due to.

Examples

As/ because / since the temperature has reached a very high point, some method of cooling must be adopted.

If because of' is used as a cause expression, the dependent clause should be neutralized into a phrase.

Because of the temperature reaching a high point, some method of cooling must be adopted.

In view of the fact / owing to the fact/ on account of the fact / that the apprentices had very little learning, their work was found to be very unsatisfactory.

As brevity is the soul of wit, in modern English long winding phrases such as in view of the fact, on account of the fact, owing to the fact etc., are not in common use. The single vocabulary items that indicate ‘Cause and Effect are preferable.

There was heavy rain the whole day and therefore the match was cancelled. 

As there was heavy rain the whole day, the match was cancelled. 

Since there was heavy rain in the whole day, the match was cancelled. 

There was heavy rain the whole day and so the match was cancelled. 

There was heavy rain the whole day, and as a result the match was cancelled.

The match was cancelled because there was heavy rain the whole day. 

Some expressions denoting the cause and effect concept:

(and, so, as, therefore, since, because, because of, on account of)

When you're trying to understand what is cause and effect, it can be helpful to review some more examples.

Cause: We received seven inches of rain in four hours.

Effect: The underpass was flooded.

Cause: I never brush my teeth. Effect: I have 5 cavities.

Cause: I've smoked cigarettes daily for 20 years. 

Effect: I have lung cancer.

Cause: Many buffalo were killed. 

Effect: Buffalo almost became extinct.

Cause: The streets were snow-packed and icy. 

Effect: Cars needed more time to stop.

Cause: He broke his arm. 

Effect: The doctor put it in a cast.

Cause: The boss was busy. 

Effect: Her secretary took a message.

Cause: A basketball player was traveling. 

Effect: The referee called a penalty.

Cause: I flipped the light switch. 

Effect: The light came on.

Cause: An oil spill causes crude oil to spill into the water. 

Effect: Many plants and animals in the water died.

Cause: A child eats only junk food and never does anything active. 

Effect: The child is obese.

Cause and Effect in Daily Life

There are many examples of cause and effect in daily life. You can probably relate to some f the following examples. 

✓ A tornado blew the roof off the house, and as a result, the family had to find another place to live. 

✓ Because the alarm was not set, we were late for work.

✓ Since school was canceled, we went to the mall.

✓ John made a rude comment, so Elise hit him.

✓ The meal we ordered was cheaper than expected, so we ordered dessert. 

✓ Betty completed each task perfectly, so she was promoted. 

✓ I had to get the mop since I spilled my juice. 

✓ Fred was driving 75 m.p.h. in a 35 mile per hour zone, so he got a speeding ticket. 

✓ Maria didn't follow the recipe correctly, so the cake did not come out as expected.

✓ The weather forecast called for rain, so he took his umbrella.

✓ Because of a price increase, sales are down. 

✓ The baby was crying, so Dad picked him up.

✓ I learned to play the drums quickly because I took lessons from a pro.

✓ The batter couldn't hit the softball because he didn't keep his eyes on the ball.

✓ When the manuscript is edited, the company will publish it.

✓ Because the cat was frightened, he arched his back and fluffed his tail.

✓ Since the electricity went out for most of the day, the ice cream in the freezer melted.

✓ Since the refrigerator was practically empty, we had to go to the store.

✓ When water is heated, the molecules move quickly, therefore the water boils

✓ The moon has a gravitational pull, consequently, the oceans have tides.

✓ When the ocean is extremely polluted, coral reefs die.

✓ Since helium rises, a helium balloon floats.

✓ There has been an increase in greenhouse gases, therefore global warming is happening.

✓ Some believe dinosaurs died out because a large meteor hit the Earth. 

✓ Tsunamis happen when tectonic plates shift.

✓ Because of a change in how planets are classified, Pluto is no longer a planet.

✓ Water is formed when two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom combine.

✓ A peacock will spread his feathers so he will attract a female.

✓ As the wind speed increases, a sailboat will move faster.

✓ When nuclear fusion stops or starts, a star explodes.

✓ Wind is produced when the surface of the Earth is heated unevenly.

✓ Because of inflation, the dollar is worth less than before.

Practice Exercises

1. Below in each of the questions are given two statements I and II. These statements may be either independent causes or may be effects of independent causes or a common cause. One of these statements may be the effect of the other statements. Read both the statements and decide which of the following answer choice correctly depicts the relationship between these two statements.

1. Statements:

I. Standard of living among the middle class society is constantly growing up since past of few years.

II. Indian Economy is observing remarkable growth.

a. Statement I is the cause and Statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

2. Statements:

I. The meteorological Department has issued a statement mentioning deficient rainfall during monsoon in many parts of the country.

II. The Government has lowered the revised estimated GDP growth from the level of earlier estimates.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes.

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

3. Statements:

I. A huge truck overturned on the middle of the road last night.

II. The police had cordoned of entire area in the locality this morning for half of the day.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

4. Statements:

I. Importance of Yoga and exercise is being realized by all sections of the society.

II. There is an increasing awareness about health in the society particularly among middle ages group of people.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

5. Statements:

I. The prices of food grains and other essential commodities in the open market have risen sharply during the past three months.

II. The political party in opposition has given a call for general strike to protest against the government's economic policy. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

6. Statements:

I. The Government has decided to hold a single entrance test for admission to all the medical colleges in India.

II. The State Government has debarred students from other States to apply for the seats in the medical colleges in the State. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

7. Statements:

I. Large number of Primary Schools in the rural areas is run by only one teacher.

II. There has been a huge dropout from the primary schools in rural areas.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

8. Statements:

I. The employees of the biggest bank in the country have given an indefinite strike call starting from the third of the next month.

II. The employees of the Central Government have withdrawn their week long demonstrations.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

9. Statements:

I. Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the unlawful gathering of large number of people.

II. The citizens' forum called a general strike in protest against the police atrocities. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

10. Statements:

I. The farmers have decided against selling their Kharif crops to the Government agencies.

II. The Government has reduced the procurement price of Kharif crops starting from the last month to the next six months. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

11. Statements:

I. Many people visited the religious place during the week-end.

II. Few people visited the religious place during the week days.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

12. Statements:

I. All the schools in the area had to be kept closed for most part of the week.

II. Many parents have withdrawn their children from the local schools.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

13. Statements:

I. The literacy rate in the district has been increasing for the last four years.

II. The district administration has conducted extensive training programme for the workers involved in the literacy drive. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

14. Statements:

I. The car manufacturing companies have recently increased the prices of mid-sized cars.

II. The Government recently increased the duty on mid-sized cars. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

15. Statements: 

I. The university officers have decided to conduct last examination every year in March/April in order to announce the result at proper time.

II. In past the result was declared late by the University due to the lack of number of examiners.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

16. Statements:

I. The State Government has announced special tax package for the new industries to be set-up in the State.

II. Last year the State Government had hiked the taxes for all industrial activities in the State.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes.

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

17. Statements:

I. The Government has allowed private airline companies in India to operate to overseas to overseas destinations.

II. The national air carrier has increased its flights to overseas destinations.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

18. Statements:

1. The Government has imported large quantities of sugar as per trade agreement with other countries.

II. The prices of sugar in the domestic market have fallen sharply in the recent months.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

19. Statements:

I. Many people in the area are reported to be suffering from Malaria.

II. Private Medical Practitioners in the area have decided to close their clinics for few days.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

20. Statements:

I. Rural and semi-urban areas in the country have been suffering due to load shedding for quite some time.

II. If the Government is not able to overcome the power crisis, load-shedding will be extended even to the urban areas. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

21. Statements:

I. The Government has increased rates of petrol and diesel by 10% from the immediate effect.

II. Oil producing countries have decided to increase 10% production on crude oil from the last quarter. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

22. Statements:

I. Police had resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the unruly mob from the civic headquarters.

II. The civic administration has recently hiked the property tax of the residential buildings by about 30 percent. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

23. Statements:

I. The Government has decided to give tax benefits for small savings for investments and benefit accruals. However, all withdrawals of such savings are to be taxed.

II. People have been investing more in small savings than in equity market to avail maximum tax benefits. 

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

24. Statements:

I. There was a huge rush of people to the temple last Sunday the 15th of the month.

II. The temple authority had decided to close down the temple for repairs from 17th of the month.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

25. Statements:

I. Large number of people living in the low lying areas has been evacuated during the last few days to safer places.

II. The Government has rushed in relief supplies to the people living in the affected areas.

a. Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect. 

b. Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect. 

c. Both the statements I and II are independent causes. 

d. Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes. 

e. Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.

2. Fill the blanks with different 'Cause and effect expressions.

This year my father has had a huge profit in business, _______ the turn over in his export trade has reached several crores. He has bought a new flat in the heart of the city and _________ everyone in the house is happy. Now, the children can easily return home for lunch ________ the school is at walking distance from the house. The college bus comes very near the house _________ my brother need not depend on other buses. My father has also bought a new car and _______ my mother is quite happy _______. She can use the old car entirely for the family. Father has promised to take us all on a tour to the north _______ every one is extremely pleased with dad.

3. Use 'cause expressions to link the following statements.

1. Vertical boilers have been installed in the factory. Only a limited floor space is available.

2. National criteria for handling wasted have not been fixed. Traders take full advantage of it.

3. The Recycling units do not have the basic facilities for treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes. These wastes pose a serious threat to the lives of the people in the area.

4. There is considerable increase in the number of industries. The quantum of wastes has also increased

5. The reprocessing units in our country are far below the standard of efficiency. The environmentalists suggest a blanket ban on the import of wastes.

6. Recycling and disposal of wastes require sizable expenditure. In such situations, industries preferred to export their wastes to other countries.

7. We were late. It rained heavily.

8. A library edition has a strong binding. It is costlier than a paper back edition.

9. Packing is expensive. Packaging increases the price of the product.

10. Advertising is designed in an attractive way. It stimulated demand.

11. The cost of labour was high. A mechanical stoker was installed.

12. Ravi was a spendthrift. He became bankrupt.

13. The handicraft worker was poor. He decided to work in the factory.

14. Most people cannot afford to buy a house outright. They borrow money from a building society and pay back the loan.

15. The temperatures reached are very high. Some method of cooling must be adapted.

16. Metal expands when it is heated. Expansion joints are fitted to steam pipes.

17. Atomic power is not available in sufficient quantity. Coal is still a very valuable source of power.

18. Exhaust gases still possess a great deal of heat. They can be used to heat the incoming air to the boiler.

19. The earliest steam engines could be used only for pumping. The crank had not been invented.

20. Gas turbines are not self-starting. A starting motor must be fitted, to drive the compressor.

21. The neutron is an uncharged particle. No repulsive forces are exerted on it by the nucleus.

22. He wrote the instruction in several languages. People from different countries could understand them.

23. The working of the machine is so complex. It requires a technician to operate it.

24. They have devised a new method for super heating steam, its efficiency is increased.

25. She left her umbrella at her office. Malathi got drenched during rainstorm.

26. A ship hits the big rock, began to sink. The sailors jumped out of the ship.

4. Match the 'Causes’ in Column A with their 'Effects' in Column B 

5. Complete the following sentences with an appropriate 'clause or adverbial phrase', bearing in mind the 'cause and effect principle.

1. Saudi Arabia is a rich country _______

2. Oil has an effect on world economy ______

3. ______ there is a need for a gradual shift from coal to other forms of energy.

4. Chernobyl plant has resulted in the loss of lives ______.

5. ______ we have to meet the growing needs of the increasing population.

6. Traditional match making process has been outdated ______.

7. _______it (internet facilities) has become the most useful mode of communication for the people.

8. IT executives are in a hurry to meet the target ______.

9. Information technology has plenty of job opportunities ______.

10. He is considered a successful administrator ______.