(IGP) IAS Pre Paper - 2: GS - Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability - Cause & 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 practise 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.
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
Basic Question Format: In such questions, two statements numbered I and II are given. Theremay 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
(a) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
(b) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
(c) If both the statements I and II are independent causes
(d) 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).

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) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
(b) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
(c) If both the statements I and II are independent causes
(d) 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).

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) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
(b) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
(c) If both the statements I and II are independent causes
(d) 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
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 inMizoram.
II. Mizoram is peaceful now.
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.

Example 5

I. There have been heavy rains in the catchment area of the lakes supplying drinking water to the city.
II. The municipal authority has suspended the proposed cut in water supply to the city.
Solution. Since there have been heavy rains, there will now be ample water and this will obviate the need to cut the water supply. So, option (a) is our answer.

Example 6

I. Many pilgrims used government transport to travel to the holy shrine.
II. The cost of travel by private transport is very high.
Solution. Obviously, the high cost of private travel has given a boost to government transport. So, option (b) is our answer.

Example 7

I. Many people left from the city for their nature places during the summer months.
II. Many tourists gathered in the city during summer months.
Solution. Cleanly event I is the effect of summer vacation while event II is the effect of trying to get relief in summer. So, option (d) is our answer.

Example 8

I. The employees of the biggest bank in the country have given an indefinite strike call starting from third of the next month.
II. The employees of the central government have withdrawn their week long demonstrations.
Solution. The employees of a bank going on strike and the government employees calling off their protest seem to be two independent events that might have been triggered by individual causes. So, option (c) is our answer.

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