SSC MTS Cause & Effect — Study Material, 4 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam
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SSC MTS Cause & Effect
Study Material — 4 PYQs (2023–2023) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
SSC MTS Cause & Effect is a frequently tested subtopic — 4 previous year questions from 2023–2023 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
4 questions from actual SSC MTS papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution
Exam Q 12023Previous Year Pattern
A factory's production decreased by 20% after installing new machinery. However, after worker training was completed, production increased by 25% from the decreased level. The factory manager claims that the net effect is a 5% increase in production. Which of the following best describes the logical flaw in this claim?
A study found that students who attended tutoring sessions scored 15% higher on average than those who did not. The tutoring center concluded that tutoring directly causes higher test scores. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this causal conclusion?
Exam Q 32023Previous Year Pattern
A pharmaceutical company reports that patients taking Drug X experienced a 40% reduction in symptoms within 2 weeks. However, a control group that received a placebo also experienced a 25% reduction in symptoms in the same period. The company claims Drug X is 'highly effective' based on the 15-percentage-point difference. What is the primary logical flaw in this reasoning?
Exam Q 42023Previous Year Pattern
A city implemented a new traffic law requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets. Six months later, motorcycle accident fatalities decreased by 35%. The city council attributed this entirely to the helmet law. However, during the same period, the city also: (1) increased traffic police patrols by 40%, (2) repaired 200 potholes on major roads, and (3) launched a public awareness campaign about safe riding. Which statement best describes the logical issue with the council's conclusion?
Concept Notes
Cause & Effect— Rules & Concept
💡
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.
📊
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
12graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
A student scored low marks because he was absent from classes frequently. Which of the following statements is INCONSISTENT with this cause-effect relationship?
Practice 2easy
Because the factory closed down, many workers lost their jobs. What is the CAUSE of job loss in this sentence?
Practice 3easy
Heavy rainfall in the mountains caused flooding in the nearby villages. Which of the following is the EFFECT in this statement?
Practice 4easy
The student did not study regularly, so he failed the examination. Which statement correctly describes the cause-effect relationship?
Practice 5easy
The road was wet because it had rained the previous night. Which of the following is a correct inference from this cause-effect relationship?
Practice 6easy
The school announced a holiday because of heavy snowfall. What is the EFFECT of this cause-effect relationship?
Practice 7medium
A city implemented stricter traffic rules and increased police patrols on highways. Within three months, fatal accidents decreased by 35%. A transport minister claims this proves stricter rules prevent accidents. What additional information would most weaken this claim?
Practice 8medium
A government banned plastic bags, and within one year, ocean plastic pollution decreased by 15%. An environmental group claims this proves the ban was effective. Which statement identifies the most significant weakness in this conclusion?
Practice 9medium
A student's exam score improved from 45% to 72% after she joined a coaching institute. Her friend claims this proves the coaching caused the improvement. Which statement best identifies a flaw in this reasoning?
Practice 10medium
A company's customer retention rate dropped from 78% to 61% after it outsourced its customer service to a third-party vendor. The CEO attributes this to the change in service provider. Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support an alternative cause?
Practice 11medium
A factory's production decreased by 20% after workers went on strike for two weeks. Which of the following is a valid cause-and-effect relationship based on this information?
Practice 12medium
A school introduced mandatory yoga sessions for all students. Within six months, student absenteeism fell from 12% to 8%, and disciplinary incidents decreased by 40%. The principal claims yoga caused both improvements. What logical flaw exists in this reasoning?
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.