Logical Reasoning: Cause and Effect

Summer, 2012

Miki Loschky

CIMA © 2008

Understanding Complex Relationships in Logic

• Content Objective: Interpret cause and effect statements

• Language Objective: During reading academic text, identify cause and effect patterns, while also paying attention to signal words

Different Ways in Which Cause-Effect Relationships Can Be StatedCause Effect

Ex. I was caught in traffic (action); therefore, I missed my first class (result).

Effect Cause

Ex. I missed my first class (result) because I was caught in traffic (action)

Signal Words (Yaworski Chapter 9)

Words that Signal Causes

Words That Signal Effects

Cause ReasonSince … Many factorsDue to … If…, then …Because (of) … This prompted …

Therefore ThusResulting in … .. .is the result of …So ConsequentlyEffect ThenAffect

Identifying Cause and Effect Statements

• Underline the signal words that are related to cause and effect relationships in the following paragraph:

Cosmic radiation is reduced at seal level because of the protective blanket of the atmosphere. Thus, at higher altitudes cosmic radiation is more intense. For instance in Denver, the “mile-high city,” a person receives more than twice as much cosmic radiation as at sea level.

Cosmic radiation paragraph continued

A couple of round-trip flights between New York and San Francisco cause us to be exposed to as much radiation as we receive in a chest X ray. The air time of airline personnel is limited because of this extra radiation.

Answer

• Cosmic radiation is reduced at seal level because of the protective blanket of the atmosphere. Thus, at higher altitudes cosmic radiation is more intense. For instance in Denver, the “mile-high city,” a person receives more than twice as much cosmic radiation as at sea level. A couple of round-trip flights between New York and San Francisco cause us to be exposed to as much radiation as we receive in a chest X ray. The air time of airline personnel is limited because of this extra radiation.

Exercise 1

• Identify the cause-effect relationships for the following sentence:

• 1) Anita missed breakfast, which made her hungry, so she stopped at the coffee shop for a donut.

A caused B: Anita missed breakfast (cause), and ________________ (effect)

B caused C: _________________ (cause), and she stopped at the coffee shop for a donut (effect).

Exercise 1 Answer Keys

A caused B: Anita missed breakfast (cause), and she felt hungry (effect)

B caused C: Anita felt hungry (cause), and she stopped at the coffee shop for a donut.

Chain of Reasoning:

Cause Effect

(Cause) Effect

Exercise 2 (Cambridge Preparation for

the TOEFL Test)Complete the following sentence by choosing the phrase/clause that would likely follow the underlined word.

According to dental researchers, a vaccine that could significantly reduce the number of microorganisms thought to cause cavities will soon be ready for human trials. Consequently, _____________________

Exercise 2 Answer Choices

• A) cavity prevention program may soon be eliminated.

• B) immunization of test animals will no longer be necessary

• C) children will be able to consume more sugary foods and drinks.

• D) long-term protection against tooth decay could soon be available on the market.

Exercise 2 Answer Key

According to dental researchers, a vaccine that could

significantly reduce the number of microorganisms thought to

cause cavities will soon be ready for human trials.

Consequently, D) long-term protection against tooth decay

could soon be available on the market

Vaccine (Cause) Reducing microorganism (Effect)

Microorganism (Cause) tooth decay (Effect)

Exercise 3: The Invasion of Alien Species

In many parts of the world, alien species are harming the environment and causing other problems. An alien species is a species of plant or animal that has moved from its original home to a new area. Sometimes people have purposely introduced the new species; sometimes it arrives accidentally, as a side effect of international trade. In its new location, the alien species has no natural enemies, so it can grow and multiply without limit. Over time-sometimes decades, sometimes a few years-the new species takes living space and food away from the native plants and animals. The result can mean drastic change in the natural landscape and problems for people.

Partially Completed Discourse Graphic Organizers to Increase Text Comprehension

(Adapted from Grabes & Jiang, 2010)

Cause 1: New species are introduced purposely or accidentally

Cause 2: ______________

______________

______________

therefore

Effect 1: ______

______________

__________________________Effect 2: _______________________________________Effect 3:

Completed Discourse Graphic Organizers

Cause 1: New species are introduced purposely or accidentally

Cause 2: The alien species has no natural enemies in its new location.

“therefore”

Effect 1: Grow and multiply without limit

Effect 2: Take living space and food away from the native plants and animals.

Effect 3: Change in landscape and problems.

References

• Gear, J. & Gear, R. (2012). Cambridge preparation for the TOEFL test

• Grabe, G., & Jiang, X. (2010). Reading comprehension of text structure.

• Yaworski, J. (2006). Getting ahead: Fundamentals of college reading.