Cause & Effect — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Kira set her alarm for 6:30 but turned it off in her sleep. She woke up at 7:45 and saw the bus go by her window. What was the cause of Kira missing the bus?
A) She turned off her alarm while sleeping
B) The bus was early today
C) Her window was closed tight
D) Her room was a little messy
Turning off the alarm caused her to wake up late, and waking up late caused her to miss the bus.
2. Theo had a puppy that chewed his new shoe. He had left the shoe on the floor near the puppy bed. Why did the puppy chew the shoe?
A) The puppy was angry at Theo
B) The shoe was left within the puppy reach
C) The shoe tasted like dog food
D) Theo told the puppy to chew it
The puppy could only chew the shoe because it was left close by, so that placement was the cause.
3. Ada spilled paint on her drawing. She had bumped the cup with her elbow while reaching for a crayon. What caused the paint to spill?
A) The paint was too full
B) Ada bumped the cup with her elbow
C) The crayon was broken
D) The paper was slippery
The story says Ada bumped the cup with her elbow, and that bump is the direct cause of the spill.
4. Milo flew his kite higher and higher. A strong gust of wind had picked it up just as he started to run. Why did the kite fly so high?
A) Milo pulled the string down
B) The kite was very heavy
C) A strong gust of wind lifted it
D) Milo stopped running fast
The passage says a strong gust lifted the kite, so the wind gust is the cause of the kite rising.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Ben tripped over his backpack because he left it in the doorway.
The backpack in the doorway is the cause, and tripping over it is the effect in this story.
2. The cat knocked over the vase, so water spilled on the table.
The cat knocking the vase is the cause, and water on the table is the effect that followed.
3. Ivy laughed loudly at the joke, so her sister started to laugh too.
The loud laugh is the cause, and her sister laughing along is the effect of hearing her.
4. The dog barked at the door, so Dad went to check who was there.
The loud bark is the cause, and Dad going to check the door is the effect of that signal.
5. Leo read his book under the blanket, so his mom brought him a flashlight.
Reading under a blanket with no light is the cause, and getting a flashlight is the helpful effect.