The Stranger
by Chris Van Allsburg
Reading Comprehension Skill
Cause and Effect
causes and effects are related
An effect is what happens.
A cause is why it happens.
Cause
Timmy throws the snowball at Johnny.
Effect
Johnny gets hit in the face with the snowball
that Timmy threw.
Cause and Effect
• Clue words such as because, so, and
cause sometimes signal a cause-effect
relationship.
• Sometimes you must figure it out for
yourself that one thing causes another.
• Sometimes a cause has more than one
effect.
Good readers ask themselves why things
happens in a story. Asking why will help
you figure out cause and effect.
When you see a hippo in
the water, you can ask
yourself why he is in
there. He is probably in
the water to cool off.
Cause
The hippo was hot.
Effect
He got in the water.
Think about the
story……
Why is the stranger lying
in the road?
Cause
Mr. Bailey
hits the
stranger
with his
truck
Effect
So the
stranger is
lying in the
road
Think about the story…
Why did the stranger
try to run away when
he opened his eyes?
Cause
The author
said the
stranger
looked up with
terror. He must
have been
afraid
Effect
So he tried to
run away
Think about the story…
What effect does the stranger
have on the thermometer?
Cause
The doctor
tries to use
the
thermometer
on the
stranger
Effect
So the
mercury
gets stuck
at the
bottom
Think about the story…
What happens when the stranger
blows on the soup?
Cause
The
Stranger
blows on
the
soup.
Effect
Then a
draft is
created
and Mrs.
Bailey says
“brr…”
Think about the story…
What are some of the details that
cause the reader to notice that
the stranger is special?
Causes
Effect
Rabbits allow the
stranger close
The stranger doesn’t
sweat or get tired with
hard work
The stranger blows hard
with all his might on a
green leaf and we see an
orange leaf in the picture
So we know
the stranger
is special
Think about the story…
Since the stranger’s visit, the trees around
Bailey’s farm stay green for a week longer
than the other trees. Then, they change
color in one night. Why?
Cause
The
stranger
uses his
special
cold
weather
power
Effect
So the
trees
around
Bailey
farm turn
differently