Question 1

Because the factory released untreated waste into the river, fish populations declined significantly. What is the most direct cause of the fish population decline?

Accepted Answer

This question tests identifying the immediate cause within a cause-and-effect chain.

Question 2

A student studied consistently for three months and scored 95% in the final exam. Which statement correctly describes the cause-and-effect relationship?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of what constitutes a valid cause-and-effect relationship versus correlation or coincidence.

Question 3

Because the factory installed modern pollution control equipment, the air quality in the surrounding area improved significantly. What was the cause in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

This question tests identification of the cause in a cause-and-effect statement. The word 'because' explicitly signals the cause.

Question 4

Heavy rainfall in the mountains caused flooding in the nearby villages. Which of the following is a direct effect of this flooding?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of direct cause-and-effect relationships. Heavy rainfall → flooding is the cause. The direct effect must be an immediate consequence of flooding.

Question 5

A student studied regularly throughout the year, attended all classes, and completed all assignments. Consequently, the student scored well in the final exam. Which statement correctly identifies the cause in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

This question tests identification of the cause (what led to the result) versus the effect (the result itself) in a straightforward cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 6

A student's exam performance improved significantly after the school introduced a new teaching methodology. Which of the following is the MOST DIRECT cause of the improved performance?

Accepted Answer

This question tests the ability to identify the direct cause-and-effect relationship and distinguish it from mere correlation or indirect factors.

Question 7

The government increased fuel prices, which led to higher transportation costs for businesses. As a result, many small businesses reduced their delivery services. What is the chain of cause and effect here?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of a multi-step causal chain where one effect becomes the cause of the next effect.

Question 8

Heavy rainfall in the mountains caused flooding in the nearby villages. Which of the following is a direct effect of this flooding?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of direct cause-and-effect relationships. Heavy rainfall → flooding is the cause. The effect must be a direct consequence of flooding.

Question 9

Heavy rainfall in the mountainous region caused landslides, which blocked the main highway. As a result, vehicles had to take a longer alternate route, increasing travel time by 3 hours. What is the direct cause of the increased travel time?

Accepted Answer

The question tests understanding of direct cause-and-effect relationships. The direct cause of increased travel time is the blocked highway (the immediate obstacle), not the rainfall itself, though rainfall triggered the chain of events.

Question 10

Statement I: The municipal corporation announced a complete ban on plastic bags in the city.
Statement II: Several shopkeepers in the city started using cloth and paper bags for packaging.

Which of the following is correct regarding the two statements?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Read both statements carefully. Statement I says plastic bags are banned by the municipal corporation. Statement II says shopkeepers switched to cloth and paper bags. Step 2: Identify the logical link. A ban on plastic bags would directly force shopkeepers to look for alternatives. Step 3: Determine cause and effect. The ban (Statement I) is the CAUSE, and shopkeepers adopting alternative bags (Statement II) is the EFFECT. Statement II naturally follows from Statement I. Therefore, Statement I is the cause and Statement II is the effect.

Question 11

A company's sales decreased because its main competitor launched an aggressive marketing campaign. Based on this cause-effect relationship, what would be a logical consequence for the company?

Accepted Answer

This question tests the ability to extend a cause-effect relationship and predict logical consequences.

Question 12

A drought lasted for three consecutive years in a farming region. As a result, crop yields decreased dramatically. Which of the following best explains the cause-and-effect relationship?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of how environmental causes produce agricultural effects through a clear logical chain.

Question 13

The price of vegetables increased sharply because of an unexpected frost that destroyed crops. Which statement correctly describes the relationship?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of cause-effect chains and the ability to correctly state the logical relationship.

Question 14

A student failed the exam because she did not study regularly. Which of the following would be a way to prevent this effect in the future?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of cause-effect and the ability to identify preventive measures by addressing the root cause.

Question 15

A factory's production decreased significantly after the workers went on strike for better wages. Which of the following is a valid effect of the strike?

Accepted Answer

This question tests identification of direct effects resulting from a stated cause. The strike directly caused the production decrease.

Question 16

Because the company reduced its workforce by 30%, employee morale decreased and productivity fell. Which of the following is NOT a direct effect of the workforce reduction?

Accepted Answer

This question tests identifying what is NOT a direct effect—requiring students to distinguish direct effects from indirect consequences or unrelated outcomes.

Question 17

Because the factory increased its production capacity, it hired 200 additional workers. What is the cause in this statement?

Accepted Answer

This question tests the ability to identify the cause in a cause-effect relationship. The cause is what happens first and triggers the effect.

Question 18

Because the school implemented stricter attendance policies, student absenteeism decreased from 25% to 8% within six months. Which of the following is NOT a logical consequence of this change?

Accepted Answer

This question tests understanding of what logically follows from a cause-and-effect relationship versus what is unrelated or contradictory.

Question 19

The company reduced its workforce by 30% last quarter. As a result, employee morale decreased and productivity dropped. What is the effect mentioned in this passage?

Accepted Answer

This question tests identification of effects (consequences) in a cause-and-effect relationship. Multiple effects can result from one cause.

Question 20

A company noticed that employees who worked from home had lower productivity than office workers. The manager concluded that remote work reduces productivity. However, the company later discovered that during the remote work period, there was a major organizational restructuring happening simultaneously. Which reasoning error is most evident in the manager's conclusion?

Accepted Answer

This question tests the ability to identify confounding variables and distinguish between correlation and causation.

IBPS PO Cause & Effect

Cause & Effect— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Cause & Effect — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Cause & Effect