Cause and effect words

In a sentence, the word 'because' is used to introduce what?

• The reason something happened (the cause)

• The result of an action (the effect)

• A person's opinion

• A description of a place

Answer explanation

The word 'because' is a signal word that explains why an event occurred, which is the cause. The other options describe different sentence elements.

Sort the signal words and phrases based on whether they typically introduce a cause or an effect.

Groups:

(a) Introduces a Cause

,

(b) Introduces an Effect

• Consequently

• Because of

• As a result

• Since

• Therefore

• Due to

Answer explanation

Words like 'since,' 'because of,' and 'due to' explain the reason why something happened (the cause). Words like 'therefore,' 'consequently,' and 'as a result' introduce the outcome or result (the effect).

Which word best completes the sentence: 'I forgot to set my alarm, _____ I was late for school.'

• so

• since

• because

• due to

Answer explanation

The sentence needs a word to introduce the effect (being late). 'So' correctly signals this result. 'Since,' 'because,' and 'due to' all introduce causes.

Sort these words and phrases based on whether they typically signal a cause or an effect.

Groups:

(a) Signals a Cause

,

(b) Signals an Effect

• as a result

• since

• because

• so

• therefore

• due to

Answer explanation

'Signals a Cause' words explain why something happened. 'Signals an Effect' words explain what happened as a result.

In the sentence, 'The game was cancelled due to the heavy rain,' what is the cause?

• the heavy rain

• the game was cancelled

• the game

• was cancelled

Answer explanation

The heavy rain is the reason *why* the game was cancelled. The cancellation is the effect. The phrase 'due to' signals the cause.

Read the sentence: 'Maria studied every night, and consequently, she earned an A on her test.' What is the effect?

• she earned an A on her test

• Maria studied every night

• every night

• on her test

Answer explanation

Earning an A is the result or outcome of studying every night. The word 'consequently' is an effect word that signals this result.

Match the cause (the beginning of the sentence) to its logical effect (the end of the sentence).

• ...so we had to cancel the picnic.

• Leo practiced his guitar daily...

• ...so it was completely ruined.

• It started to pour rain...

• ...so he became a much better player.

• The power went out...

• ...so all the lights in the house turned off.

• The puppy chewed on the shoe...

Answer explanation

Each sentence beginning is a cause that logically leads to its matched effect. For example, a power outage causes the lights to go out.

Which sentence correctly uses a cause-and-effect word to link two related ideas?

• He was hungry, so he ate a sandwich.

• He was hungry, because he ate a sandwich.

• The sky was blue, so the grass was green.

• She read a book, therefore the phone rang.

Answer explanation

This sentence shows a logical relationship: being hungry (cause) leads to eating a sandwich (effect), correctly linked by 'so'. The other options are illogical or use the signal word incorrectly.

Read the sentence: *Since the bus was running late, Maria missed the beginning of the movie.* What was the **cause** of Maria missing the beginning of the movie?

• Maria missed the beginning of the movie.

• The bus was running late.

• Maria was at the movie theater.

• The movie started on time.

Answer explanation

The cause is the reason something happens. The bus running late is the reason Maria missed the movie. The signal word 'Since' introduces the cause.

In a cause-and-effect relationship, what does the word 'outcome' mean?

• The result or effect

• The reason or trigger

• An opposite idea

• An example

Answer explanation

The word 'outcome' is a synonym for effect. It describes the result of a previous action or event.