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Cause & Effect

AFCAT · Logical Reasoning

Also prepare for:NDA CDS Agniveer Agni Army

← Statement & Conclusions Course of Action →

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Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic

→CORE CONCEPT

A cause is the reason something happens. An effect is what happens because of that reason

✏️Example

Rain (cause) makes the ground wet (effect)

💡KEY RULES

Cause always comes first in time. Effect comes after. 2. One event must directly lead to the other—there must be a real connection. 3. Correlation is NOT causation.

Just because two things happen together doesn't mean one caused the other. 4

→Look for trigger words

because, since, caused by, due to, as a result, therefore, consequently, led to. 5. A single cause can have multiple effects. A single effect can have multiple causes.

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Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

SSC CGL asks cause-effect questions in two main ways: - Find the cause of a given effect - Identify what effect follows from a given cause - Distinguish between real cause-effect and mere coincidence - Spot faulty cause-effect reasoning SHORTCUT/TRICK: Use the "IF-THEN" test: If [cause happens], then [effect should happen]. If this sounds logical and the connection is direct, it's likely correct. If the connection feels forced or needs extra steps, it's probably wrong.

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Worked Example

Solve this step-by-step before moving on

1

Step 1

Identify the claimed cause—new machinery installation.

2

Step 2

Identify the claimed effect—40% productivity increase.

3

Step 3

Check if cause came before effect—YES, machinery installed first, then productivity increased.

4

Step 4

Check if there's a direct connection—The passage assumes machinery automatically increases productivity, but doesn't prove it. Workers might be working harder due to new job expectations, or the month itself could be naturally busy.

5

Step 5

Look for alternative causes—Training on machinery, worker motivation, seasonal demand, management changes. Conclusion: The reasoning is WEAK. It shows correlation but not proven causation. Other factors could explain the effect. COMMON MISTAKE: Students assume that because Event A happened before Event B, A caused B. This is wrong. Sequence alone doesn't prove causation. You need a logical, direct connection. Also, students miss alternative explanations. Always ask: "Could something else have caused this effect?"

🔑 Key Points

Cause is the reason something happens; effect is what happens as a result.
Cause must come BEFORE effect in time—this is essential.
Use trigger words (because, since, due to, therefore, as a result) to spot cause-effect statements.
Correlation ≠ Causation: Two things happening together doesn't prove one caused the other.
Apply the IF-THEN test: If [cause], then [effect] should logically follow.
Always look for alternative causes before accepting a cause-effect claim as proven.

📌 Exam Facts

Cause-effect reasoning in SSC CGL focuses on identifying faulty logic and weak connections between events.
Trigger words for cause-effect: because, since, caused by, due to, as a result, therefore, consequently, led to.
Correlation means two things happen together; causation means one directly causes the other—they are NOT the same.
Valid cause-effect requires: (1) Cause occurs before effect in time, (2) Direct logical connection, (3) No better alternative explanation.
SSC CGL typically asks students to identify which statement represents a faulty cause-effect relationship in critical reasoning passages.
The IF-THEN test is a quick validation tool: If the claimed cause happens, does the claimed effect necessarily follow?
Multiple causes can produce one effect (overdetermined causation), and one cause can produce multiple effects (branching causation).
Temporal sequence alone (A before B) is insufficient to prove A caused B—you need evidence of direct connection.

🚀 60-Second Revision

Remember: Cause comes FIRST in time, effect comes AFTER. Always check this order.
Trap: Just because X happened before Y doesn't mean X caused Y. Look for direct logical connection.
Formula: Valid Cause-Effect = Temporal Order + Direct Connection + No Better Alternative Explanation.
Spot trigger words instantly: because, since, due to, therefore, as a result, consequently.
Use IF-THEN test in 10 seconds: If [cause], does [effect] HAVE to happen? If yes, likely valid; if no, likely faulty.
Watch for: Alternative causes hiding in the passage. Always ask 'What else could explain this effect?'
Correlation ≠ Causation—this is the #1 trick used in SSC CGL critical reasoning to trap students.

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