LOGICAL REASONING: STATEMENT AND CAUSE–EFFECT
CSAT
MEANING OF CAUSE AND EFFECT
Cause
• The reason or factor that brings about an event
Effect
• The outcome or result produced by the cause
Key Rule
• Cause always precedes effect in time
• Effect cannot occur before the cause
TYPES OF STATEMENTS IN CAUSE–EFFECT
DIRECT CAUSE–EFFECT
• One clear cause leads to one clear effect
Example Logic
Statement:
“Due to heavy rainfall, several low-lying areas were flooded.”
Cause: Heavy rainfall
Effect: Flooding of low-lying areas
INDIRECT OR CHAIN CAUSE–EFFECT
• One cause leads to multiple intermediate steps
Example
Statement:
“Due to prolonged drought, crop failure increased, leading to farmer distress.”
COMMON CAUSE
• Two events occur due to a third common cause
• One is not the cause of the other
Example
• Increase in ice cream sales and drowning incidents
• Common cause: Summer
COINCIDENTAL EVENTS
• Two events happen together by chance
• No causal relationship
CSAT Tip
• Correlation does not imply causation
RULES TO IDENTIFY TRUE CAUSE–EFFECT
Rule 1
• Cause must be sufficient to produce the effect
Rule 2
• Cause must be necessary for the effect (in context)
Rule 3
• Avoid reverse causation
Rule 4
• Avoid assumptions and outside knowledge
CAUSE–EFFECT VS ASSUMPTION
Difference
• Cause explains why something happened
• Assumption explains what is taken for granted
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Question 1
Statement:
“There has been a significant rise in road accidents due to an increase in the number of private vehicles.”
Which of the following is the cause and effect?
1. Cause: Increase in private vehicles; Effect: Rise in road accidents
2. Cause: Rise in road accidents; Effect: Increase in private vehicles
Question 2
Statement:
“Many students failed the examination because the question paper was unusually difficult.”
Which is the correct cause and effect?
Question 3
Statement:
“There was a sudden fall in tourism after the outbreak of a pandemic.”
Identify the correct cause and effect.
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Subject: CSAT
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