Cause and Effect – Logical Reasoning – MBA CUET PG – Notes & Practice Questions

Cause and effect is a system of logical reasoning where evidence and proof are presented to show how an event took place or how something happened. The cause is simply the reason for the occurrence of an event, while effects include the outcomes of the event that occurred (outcomes of a cause). The cause and effect logical reasoning asks, “how did this happen?”. Here, there is a good explanation of how an event occurred or what happened. In this type of logical reasoning, there must be a sufficient or necessary condition for any event to occur. This sufficient or necessary condition for the occurrence of such an event is called its cause. The sufficiency or necessity of this cause is of great importance for the cause to be valid. The definition of a sufficient condition and a necessary condition. A condition is said to be sufficient for an event if the event must occur in the presence of such a condition, ie., a condition that, once put in place, the event must occur. A necessary condition for an event is a condition in whose absence the event will not occur. It is a condition that must be present for an event to take place, such that whenever the condition is not in place, the event will not occur. In this type of questions two statements are given. Out of these two statements one may be the cause and other the effect or either these two may be independent causes any effect or independent effects of any cause etc.

Solved Examples

1. Statements:

I. There has been an increase in the rate of childhood obesity in the past decade.

II. Schools have been reducing the amount of physical education time in the curriculum.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes

Sol. (d); The increase in childhood obesity and the reduction of physical education time in schools may not be directly related, suggesting they could be effects of separate, independent causes.

2. Statements:

I. A country has experienced a significant increase in the number of tourists.

II. The same country has recently relaxed its visa regulations.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes

Sol. (b); The relaxation of visa regulations is likely the cause leading to an increase in the number of tourists visiting the country.

3. Statements:

I. The local river has seen a decrease in fish population.

II. There has been an increase in industrial pollution in the river.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes

Sol. (b); The increase in industrial pollution in the river is probably the cause of the decrease in the fish population.

4. Statements:

I. The rate of deforestation has accelerated in recent years.

II. There is a growing global demand for agricultural land.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes 

Sol. (b); The growing global demand for agricultural land is likely causing the acceleration in the rate of deforestation.

Practice Questions

Direction (1-30): In each of the following questions, two statements numbered I and II are given. There may be cause and effect relationship between the two statements. These two statements may be the effect of the same cause or independent causes. Read both the statements in each question and mark your answer.

1. Statement: (CUET PG 2024)

I. Senior citizens of the city have complained about the late night disturbance caused due to loudspeakers used during festivals

II. Though, the Government has issued a directive banning late night celebrations involving use of loudspeakers, it is not being strictly followed in some of the areas

Options:

(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 some common cause.

2. Statements: (CUET PG 2024)

I. The prices of petrol and diesel in the domestic market have remained unchanged for the past few months.

II. The crude oil prices in the International market have gone up substantially in the last few months.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are the effects of independent causes

3. Statements:

I. The Reserve Bank of India has recently put restrictions on few small banks in the country.

II. The small banks in the private and co-operative sector in India are not in a position to withstand the competitions of the bigger in the public sector.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are effects independent causes

4. Statements:

I. All the schools in the area had to be kept closed for most part of the week.

II. Many parents have withdrawn their children from the local schools.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its  effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes

5. Statements:

I. India has surpassed the value of tea exports this year over all the earlier years due to an increase in demand for quality tea in the European market.

II. There is an increase in demand of coffee in the domestic market during the last two years.

Options:

(a) Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) Both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes