Cause & Effect — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Dark clouds rolled in and thunder rumbled. Coach blew the whistle and the soccer game was stopped. What was the cause of the game being stopped?
A) The stormy weather moving in
B) The coach loud whistle sound
C) The players feeling tired
D) The ball rolling away
The storm was the real reason; the whistle was only how the coach told the team. The cause came before the whistle.
2. Mia did not set her alarm. In the morning, she woke up late and missed the bus. What was the effect of not setting the alarm?
A) Mia missed the bus
B) Mia set her alarm
C) The bus broke down
D) Mia ate breakfast
Missing the bus is the result, or effect, of not setting the alarm; waking up late was the link.
3. Max the dog chewed a bone all afternoon. That night, Max slept for many hours. What was the cause of Max sleeping so long?
A) Max chewed and played a lot
B) The bone was brown
C) It was sunny outside
D) Max ate breakfast
Playing and chewing all afternoon made Max tired; this is the cause of his long sleep.
4. The teacher opened the window because the room felt stuffy. Soon, fresh air filled the classroom. What was the effect of opening the window?
A) Fresh air came into the room
B) The room felt stuffy
C) The teacher was tired
D) The bell rang loudly
Fresh air is the effect; the stuffy room was the cause that made the teacher act.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The street was slippery because it had rained during the night.
Rain is the cause; because introduces the reason for the slippery street.
2. The fire alarm rang, so everyone left the building.
So signals the effect; leaving the building followed the alarm ringing.
3. Since the cat heard a noise, it hid under the bed.
Since introduces the cause; hiding is the effect of the scary sound.
4. The ice cream melted because it was hot outside.
Heat is the cause; because tells why the ice cream melted.
5. If the battery dies, then the toy will not work.
Then signals the effect; toys stop working when the battery dies.