Cause and Effect
Identify causal relationships
Cause and Effect is a logical reasoning topic that tests your ability to identify the relationship between two statements or events. You must determine whether one statement is the cause of another, or if they share a common cause, or if they are independent occurrences.
Key concepts
I is the Cause and II is the Effect
When the first statement (I) directly leads to or results in the second statement (II). The cause always precedes the effect in time. For example: 'The roads were waterlogged due to heavy rainfall' (Cause) -> 'Traffic moved at a snail's pace' (Effect).
II is the Cause and I is the Effect
When the second statement (II) is the reason behind the first statement (I). The order is reversed from what appears. For example: 'The company reported record profits' (Effect) -> 'The marketing campaign was highly successful' (Cause).
Both Statements are Effects of Independent Causes
When the two statements are independent events that happen to occur together, but neither causes the other. They may share a common underlying factor or be completely unrelated. For example: 'The stock market crashed' and 'There was a drought in the region' — both could be effects of a global economic crisis or could be completely unrelated.
Both Statements are Effects of Some Common Cause
When both statements result from the same underlying cause that is not explicitly mentioned. The statements are related but neither causes the other. For example: 'The school remained closed' and 'All examinations were postponed' — both are effects of heavy flooding in the city.
Both Statements are Independent Causes
When each statement is a cause in itself, potentially leading to some common effect that is not mentioned. Both are initiating factors for outcomes not stated in the problem. For example: 'Government reduced taxes' and 'Interest rates were lowered' — both are causes that could independently stimulate economic growth.
Chronological and Logical Analysis
Always check the time sequence — a cause must precede its effect. Also verify the logical connection — there should be a plausible mechanism linking cause to effect. Be wary of coincidental relationships where two events occur together but have no causal link.