SSC CPO Cause & Effect — Study Material, 1 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam
ZestExam
SSC CPO Cause & Effect
Study Material — 1 PYQs (2022–2022) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
SSC CPO Cause & Effect is a frequently tested subtopic — 1 previous year questions from 2022–2022 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
1 questions from actual SSC CPO papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution
Exam Q 12022Previous Year Pattern
A factory's production output decreased by 40% after implementing a new automated system. However, the factory manager claims that the new system was introduced to increase efficiency. An investigation revealed that the system was installed incorrectly, causing a bottleneck in the assembly line. Which of the following best explains the relationship between the cause and effect in this scenario?
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.
📊
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.
✏️
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 to Remember
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-Specific Tips
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.
Practice MCQs
Cause & Effect — Practice Questions
16graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
Heavy rainfall in the mountains caused flooding in the nearby villages. Which of the following is a direct effect of this flooding?
Practice 2easy
Because the factory increased production without upgrading its waste management system, the river became polluted. What is the cause in this statement?
Practice 3easy
A student did not study for the exam. As a result, she scored poorly. Which statement correctly describes the cause-and-effect relationship?
Practice 4easy
The company's sales increased because it launched an aggressive marketing campaign. Which of the following is NOT a possible effect of this cause?
Practice 5easy
Because the school installed new air conditioning systems, students attended classes more regularly. What is the effect in this cause-and-effect relationship?
Practice 6easy
A student's exam performance declined sharply after he started spending 6 hours daily on social media instead of studying. Which of the following is the EFFECT in this cause-and-effect relationship?
Practice 7medium
A student's exam score improved because she studied harder. However, her overall GPA declined despite the improved exam score. Which of the following best explains this apparent contradiction?
Practice 8medium
A factory's production decreased by 20% after workers reduced their working hours. However, when the factory introduced automated machinery, production increased by 30% from the reduced level. What is the net change in production compared to the original level?
Practice 9medium
A city implemented stricter traffic laws, which caused a 25% reduction in traffic accidents. However, the number of traffic citations issued increased by 40%. Which of the following is a valid inference from this information?
Practice 10medium
A pharmaceutical company discontinued a drug because it had severe side effects. As a result, patients who were taking this drug experienced withdrawal symptoms. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the discontinuation and the withdrawal symptoms?
Practice 11medium
A company increased employee salaries by 15%, which resulted in improved employee morale. However, the company's profit margin decreased by 8% in the same quarter. Which of the following is the most logical explanation for the profit margin decrease?
Practice 12hard
A factory's production output decreased by 40% after introducing automated machinery. However, the factory manager claims that the automation was successful because worker efficiency increased by 60%. Which of the following best explains why the manager's claim is logically flawed?
Practice 13hard
A study found that students who attended tutoring classes scored 15% higher on average than those who did not. The tutoring institute concluded that tutoring directly causes higher scores. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this cause-effect claim?
Practice 14hard
A city implemented a new traffic law requiring all drivers to use headlights during daytime. Six months later, traffic accidents decreased by 30%. The city council attributed this decrease directly to the headlight law. However, a traffic analyst noted that during the same period, the city also (1) repaired all potholes, (2) increased police patrols by 40%, and (3) launched a driver safety awareness campaign. Which statement best identifies the logical flaw in the council's reasoning?
Practice 15hard
A pharmaceutical company reports that patients taking Drug X experienced a 50% reduction in symptoms within 2 weeks. However, a control group that received a placebo also showed a 45% symptom reduction in the same period. The company still claims Drug X is effective. Which logical error best describes this claim?
Practice 16hard
A company noticed that employees who took regular breaks during work showed 25% higher productivity than those who did not. The HR department concluded that taking breaks causes higher productivity and mandated hourly breaks for all employees. Three months later, overall productivity decreased by 10%. Which of the following best explains why the HR department's cause-effect reasoning was flawed?
60-Second Revision — Cause & Effect
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.