Study · Academic reading skillsLesson 10
Understanding Cause, Effect and Logical Relationships
Level B1–B2
Understanding Cause, Effect and Logical Relationships
Learning goals
- In this lesson, you will learn to follow cause, effect, contrast, example, and conclusion relationships in academic texts. You will use signal words carefully, identify what each linking expression does, and avoid assuming that nearby events are always cause and effect.
Step 1 — Read and discover
Read the passage once. Notice how sentences connect through cause, result, contrast, and example.
Why Some Streets Flood After Heavy Rain
When heavy rain falls on a city, water needs somewhere to go. In areas with many paved surfaces, less rain can soak into the ground. As a result, more water flows quickly into drains and along streets.
Blocked drains can make the problem worse because leaves and litter reduce the amount of water that can pass through. In some neighbourhoods, drains are also too small to manage very heavy rainfall. These factors can cause water to collect in low-lying areas.
Planting trees and creating small green spaces may help rainwater enter the soil, although these measures cannot prevent every flood. Cities also need to maintain drains and plan for extreme weather. For this reason, flood prevention usually requires several measures rather than one simple solution.
1. According to paragraph 1, why does more water flow quickly along streets in areas with many paved surfaces?Try again
1. According to paragraph 1, why does more water flow quickly along streets in areas with many paved surfaces?
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2. What does “these measures” refer to in paragraph 3?Try again
2. What does “these measures” refer to in paragraph 3?
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3. Why does the writer conclude that flood prevention usually requires several measures?Try again
3. Why does the writer conclude that flood prevention usually requires several measures?
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Step 2 — Logical relationships
Cause, effect, and other links
Academic texts connect ideas through relationships. Cause explains why something happens; effect explains the result. Writers also use contrast, examples, and conclusion signals to show how ideas fit together.
A practical strategy
1. Look for signal words such as because, since, therefore, as a result, although, however, for example, and for this reason.
2. Identify which event or condition comes first and which follows.
3. Check the relationship in the full sentence; signal words can have different functions.
4. Do not assume that two events are cause and effect just because they appear together.
Strategy guide
Cause and effect
Follow why something happens and what results from it.
- Look for signals such as because and as a result.
- Decide which event or condition comes first.
- Read the full sentence before linking ideas.
Example: Less absorption → more water flows quickly along streets.
Common mistake: Assuming that two nearby events must be cause and effect.
Signal words
Identify how writers connect ideas.
- Match because with reason, as a result with consequence.
- Treat although as contrast or limitation.
- Use for example for illustration and for this reason for conclusion.
Example: Although these measures help, they cannot prevent every flood.
Common mistake: Ignoring the function of a linker and reading only one clause.
Reference in logic chains
Track what phrases such as these factors or these measures refer to.
- Look back to the clause or sentence before the reference.
- Check that the logical link still makes sense.
- Connect reference words to causes, effects, or measures already named.
Example: These measures → planting trees and creating green spaces.
Common mistake: Linking a reference phrase to an unrelated detail from another paragraph.
Step 3 — Match the linking function
Choose the best answer, then check your choices.
1. “Because” most often signals:Try again
1. “Because” most often signals:
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2. “As a result” most often signals:Try again
2. “As a result” most often signals:
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3. “Although” most often signals:Try again
3. “Although” most often signals:
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4. “For example” most often signals:Try again
4. “For example” most often signals:
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5. “For this reason” most often signals:Try again
5. “For this reason” most often signals:
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6. Two events mentioned in the same paragraph:Try again
6. Two events mentioned in the same paragraph:
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Step 4 — Practise with the flood passage
Read the text below and answer the questions.
Why Some Streets Flood After Heavy Rain
Blocked drains can make the problem worse because leaves and litter reduce the amount of water that can pass through. In some neighbourhoods, drains are also too small to manage very heavy rainfall. These factors can cause water to collect in low-lying areas.
Planting trees and creating small green spaces may help rainwater enter the soil, although these measures cannot prevent every flood. Cities also need to maintain drains and plan for extreme weather. For this reason, flood prevention usually requires several measures rather than one simple solution.
1. Blocked drains can make flooding worse because:Try again
1. Blocked drains can make flooding worse because:
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2. In paragraph 2, “These factors” refers most closely to:Try again
2. In paragraph 2, “These factors” refers most closely to:
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3. Green spaces may help rainwater enter the soil, but the writer notes they:Try again
3. Green spaces may help rainwater enter the soil, but the writer notes they:
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4. The writer links paved surfaces to faster surface flow by explaining that:Try again
4. The writer links paved surfaces to faster surface flow by explaining that:
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5. Which sentence best states the writer’s conclusion?Try again
5. Which sentence best states the writer’s conclusion?
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Step 5 — Choose the best summary
Read each paragraph quickly, then choose the best summary.
1. In paved areas, less rain soaks into the ground, so more water runs into drains and along streets. Blocked or undersized drains can worsen flooding, while green spaces may help absorption but cannot solve every problem. Maintenance and planning are therefore also necessary.Try again
1. In paved areas, less rain soaks into the ground, so more water runs into drains and along streets. Blocked or undersized drains can worsen flooding, while green spaces may help absorption but cannot solve every problem. Maintenance and planning are therefore also necessary.
✓
2. Signal words help readers because they:Try again
2. Signal words help readers because they:
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3. When although appears in a sentence, you should expect:Try again
3. When although appears in a sentence, you should expect:
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Step 6 — Quick review
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. Cause and effect describe:Try again
1. Cause and effect describe:
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2. Before deciding that one event caused another, you should:Try again
2. Before deciding that one event caused another, you should:
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3. In the flood passage, “as a result” in paragraph 1 links paved surfaces to:Try again
3. In the flood passage, “as a result” in paragraph 1 links paved surfaces to:
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4. “For this reason” in the final paragraph supports the idea that:Try again
4. “For this reason” in the final paragraph supports the idea that:
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5. Which linking word would most likely introduce an illustration?Try again
5. Which linking word would most likely introduce an illustration?
✓