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Logical Reasoning
&
Analytical Ability
Topic
Cause and Effect
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Cause and Effect

When we examine things then we seek to explain why the things happened the
way they did. We categorize these questions as cause and effect reasoning. The
strong points behind any reason are known as cause and the impact of the cause
is known as effect.
Usually in such questions the candidates are asked to determine whether a given
event is the cause or the effect of some other event. Clearly, the cause must occur
before the effect and the effect happens at same point of time after the cause. This
test is step to test candidates ability to analyse a pair of given statements and to
correlate them of cause and effect. There may be several necessary conditions for
the occurrence of an event and that they must all be included in the sufficient
condition. Further going on practice first we should learn some rules. These are
Rule 1: The cause will always occur before the effect. Hence, if two events
are given then the effect that is chronologically antecedent to the other can
only be regarded as a possible cause.
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Rule 2: A necessary condition for the occurrence of a specified event is a

circumstance in whose absence the event cannot occur.
Rule 3: A sufficient condition for the occurrence of an event is a
circumstance in whose presence the event must occur.
Rule 4: Both the events express generalized results that may not be backed
by any specific cause but may influence certain other factors.
Rule 5: The effects in both the given statements may be caused or triggered
by a third unmentioned event which may thus be called the common cause
of the given events.
Basic Question Format:

In such questions, two statements numbered I and II are given. There may be the
cause and effect relationship between the two statements. These two statements
may be the effect of the same cause or independent causes. These statements
may be independent causes without having any relationship. Read both the
statements in each question and mark your answer accordingly. Give answer
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
If both the statements I and II are independent causes
If both the statements I and II are effects of independent
causes

Smart Facts
Let us learn how we can easily solve these problems using smart facts

(a)
If first event I is in present perfect tense and II is in future tense.
Eliminate choice (a) and (c). As event II cannot be a cause or event I.
(b)
If event I is in present perfect and event II is in present continuous, so
event I occurs before II. Thus eliminate choice (a) and (c).
(c)
Event I is in present perfect tense and event II is in present continuous,
so event I occurs before event II. Hence, event II cannot be a cause. Thus
eliminate choices (a) and (c).

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Example: In each of the following questions two statements numbered I and II

are given. These may be cause and effect relationship between the two
statements. These two statements may be the effect of the same cause or
independent causes. These statements may be independent causes without
having any relationship. Read both the statements in each question and mark
your answer as.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
If both the statements I and II are independent causes
If both the statements I and II are effects of independent
causes

Example 1
I.
The local co-operative credit society has decided to stop giving loans to
farmers with immediate effect
II.
A large number of credit society members have withdrawn major part of
their deposits from the credit society

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Solution.
Clearly, withdrawn of funds by society members is bound to reduce the lending
power of the society. So, option (b) is our answer.

Example 2
I.

The police authority has recently caught a group of house breakers

II.
The citizens group in the locality have started playing cricket in the area
Solution.
Clearly both the statements are independent causes and have no casual relation
between them. So, option (c) is our answer.
Example 3

I.
A peace accord was signed between the government and the ultras and
a popular government was democratically established in Mizoram.
II.

Mizoram is peaceful now.

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Solution.
Event I is past tense and event II is in present tense. So, event II must be an
effect. Obviously II is caused by an agreement of Peace (Peace accord) and the
democratic execution of the agreement. So, option (a) is our answer.
Example 4
I.
The government has decided to make all the information
related to primary education available to the general public.
II.
In the past, the general public did not have access to all these
information related to primary education.
Solution.
The government must have seen the unawareness of the people as a strong
factor in the primary education programme being not successful. The steps
indicated in I must, thus have been sought for as a remedy for the same. So,
option (b) is our answer.

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