Context Clues - Cause/effect

Because he stayed up playing video games until 3 a.m., Marco felt lethargic all morning. What does lethargic mean?

• Full of energy and excitement

• Sluggish and lacking energy

• Hungry and thirsty

• Happy and cheerful

Answer explanation

The cause is staying up late, which leads to the effect of feeling tired. Therefore, 'lethargic' means sluggish and lacking energy.

Match each vocabulary word to the sentence where a cause-effect relationship helps explain its meaning.

• Because she had stayed up all night studying, she felt sluggish and quite tired the next morning.

• lethargic

• Since the architect wanted the building to be perfect, he checked every measurement twice with extreme care.

• meticulous

• As a result of winning the championship game, the team was filled with wild, celebratory energy.

• exuberant

Answer explanation

The cause-effect clues in each sentence define the word. 'Staying up all night' (cause) leads to feeling 'lethargic' (effect), described as sluggish and tired. 'Winning the game' (cause) leads to being 'exuberant' (effect), described as having wild, celebratory energy. 'Wanting a perfect building' (cause) leads to being 'meticulous' (effect), described as checking measurements with extreme care.

Read the sentence: "The city's decision to cancel the festival had a **detrimental** effect on local businesses; as a result, many shops reported a significant loss in revenue." Based on the cause-effect clue in the sentence, what does **detrimental** mean?

• beneficial or profitable

• harmful or damaging

• neutral or insignificant

• surprising or unexpected

Answer explanation

The phrase 'as a result' signals an effect. The effect described is a 'significant loss in revenue' for businesses. Since this is a negative outcome, the word 'detrimental' must mean something harmful or damaging.

CAUSE: A student receives a perfect score on a very difficult exam. Given this cause, sort the following words into 'Likely Feelings (Effects)' and 'Unlikely Feelings (Effects)'.

Groups:

(a) Likely Feelings (Effects)

,

(b) Unlikely Feelings (Effects)

• elation

• despondency

• melancholy

• jubilation

Answer explanation

Getting a perfect score is a positive cause. Therefore, the likely effects would be feelings of great happiness or triumph, such as 'elation' and 'jubilation'. The unlikely effects would be feelings of sadness or despair, such as 'despondency' and 'melancholy'.

After the long hike in the sun with no water, my throat felt parched. What does parched most likely mean?

• Sore

• Full

• Extremely dry and thirsty

• Cold

Answer explanation

The cause is a long, hot hike without water. The logical effect on one's throat would be feeling extremely dry and thirsty, which is the meaning of 'parched'.

Read the sentence: "The soil was **eroded** because of the heavy, constant rain, which washed away the loose dirt and left deep gullies." Based on the cause-effect relationship in the sentence, what is the meaning of the word **eroded**?

• enriched or fertilized

• packed down firmly

• worn away or washed away

• dried out and cracked

Answer explanation

The word 'because' introduces the cause (heavy, constant rain). The sentence then explains the effect of this cause: the rain 'washed away the loose dirt.' This descriptive effect serves as a direct definition clue for the word 'eroded.'

Match each vocabulary word to the cause-effect description that best defines it.

• The feeling of confusion since the situation is impossible to understand.

• devastated

• The feeling of great happiness because you achieved a major goal.

• elated

• The feeling of overwhelming sadness as a result of a terrible loss.

• bewildered

Answer explanation

Each word describes an emotion that is the effect of a specific cause. 'Elated' is caused by achievement, 'devastated' by loss, and 'bewildered' by confusion.

Because he skipped breakfast and lunch to finish his project, David was famished by dinnertime. What does famished mean?

• Slightly annoyed

• Extremely hungry

• Proud of his work

• Ready to sleep

Answer explanation

The cause is skipping two meals. The clear effect of this action would be feeling extremely hungry. 'Famished' is a strong word for hungry.

Read the sentences below. Each one describes an effect. Sort the sentences into two categories based on the type of effect the bolded word describes: 'A Fortunate Effect' or 'An Unfortunate Effect'.

Groups:

(a) A Fortunate Effect

,

(b) An Unfortunate Effect

• The unexpected donation was a **boon** for the struggling charity.

• The drought was a **calamity** for the region's farmers.

• Finding a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk was a pleasant **fortuity**.

• Losing his keys right before he had to leave was a major **predicament**.

Answer explanation

By analyzing the context of each sentence, you can determine if the bolded word describes a positive or negative outcome. A 'boon' helps a charity and a 'fortuity' is pleasant, so they are fortunate effects. A 'predicament' involves losing keys and a 'calamity' affects farmers negatively, so they are unfortunate effects.

Read the sentence: "The witness's story was inconsistent and contradicted the physical evidence; therefore, the jury found his testimony to be **dubious**." Based on the context, the word **dubious** most nearly means:

• certain and reliable

• lengthy and detailed

• emotional and passionate

• doubtful and untrustworthy

Answer explanation

The word 'therefore' signals that a conclusion or effect is coming. The cause is that the witness's story was 'inconsistent and contradicted the physical evidence.' The logical effect of such a story is that it would be considered doubtful and untrustworthy, which is the meaning of 'dubious.'