Cause and Effect
We started out early that day in our brand new car. It was supposed to take us three hours to get to Grandma’s, but my mom had a feeling that we would need more time. It’s a good thing she had that feeling because the traffic was terrible. It took us four hours to get there. If we hadn’t left early, we would have been late for the holiday dinner.
1. What caused the trip to take longer than three hours?
A. The mother’s feeling about the trip slowed them down.
B. The old car was too slow.
C. They had to turn back for something.
D. The traffic was terrible.

Cause and Effect
We started out early that day in our brand new car. It was supposed to take us three hours to get to Grandma’s, but my mom had a feeling that we would need more time. It’s a good thing she had that feeling because the traffic was terrible. It took us four hours to get there. If we hadn’t left early, we would have been late for the holiday dinner.
1. What caused the trip to take longer than three hours?
A. The mother’s feeling about the trip slowed them down.
B. The old car was too slow.
C. They had to turn back for something.
D. The traffic was terrible.

Cause and Effect
Writers use the cause-and-effect pattern to show how one thing leads to another.
A cause is the reason something happens.
An effect is the result of the cause.

Cause and Effect
To recognize a cause-and-effect relationship, ask yourself these questions:
• Is there a reason a character did something?
• Did something cause an event to happen?
• Is there a reason the event happened?
• Are there any cause-and-effect clue words or phrases, such as since, so, because, as a result , and led to?
REMEMBER
A cause can have more than one effect .
An effect can have more than one cause .

Cause and Effect
Read the passage and study the causes and effects on the next slide.
The school board recently made a rule that students cannot wear shorts to school. The board claimed that students could not study well in informal clothing. However, the climate here is very hot, and students were upset about the new rule. Most parents agreed with their children. Because people were upset, the school board had a public hearing so students and parents could voice their opinions. A majority of people were against the rule and disagreed with the board’s reasoning. Finally, the school board gave in and cancelled the rule.

Cause and Effect
Cause: The school board believes students don’t study well in shorts.
Effect: The school board passes a no-shorts rule.
Cause: The climate is hot.
Effect 1: Students are upset about not being able to wear shorts.
Effect 2: Parents are upset about students not being able to wear shorts.
Cause: Parents and students are upset about the no-shorts rule.
Effect: The school board has a public hearing.
Cause 1: People are against the school board’s rule.
Cause 2: People don’t agree with the board’s reasoning.
Effect: The school board gives in and cancels the rule.

Guided Practice with Cause and Effect
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Recently in our town, some citizens found out that the Parks
Department was planning to cut down 30 big trees around the swimming pool and its grounds. They said the trees were old, unsafe, and had big branches that could fall off and hurt someone. Immediately, e-mails went out to everyone in town who cares about the pool. People were upset.
Losing all that shade would completely change the character of the pool area. Cutting down all those trees would remove the shade and raise the pool water’s temperature. The pool would change from a comfortable, shady spot where people relax in the summer to a blazing hot sauna. The citizens demanded public hearings where they could speak about their concerns. They examined the scientific reports on the trees’ condition. They spoke about how much they love the trees. In the end, the Parks Department reversed their decision. All but three of the trees were saved.

Guided Practice with Cause and Effect
1. Why did the Parks Department plan to cut down the trees?
A. They held public hearings, and people wanted the trees cut down.
B. The Parks Department said the trees were unsafe.
C. The Parks Department made a choice because of some e-mails.
C. They decided to cut down the trees because people were upset.
2. Why would cutting down the trees raise the temperature of the water in the pool?
A. because the scientific reports measured the water temperature
B. because people would be so upset
C. because the loss of trees would take away the shade over the pool
D. because global warming was making the summers hotter

Guided Practice with Cause and Effect
3. What was the effect of the public hearings?
A. The Parks Department cut down all the trees.
B. E-mails went out all over town.
C. The water in the pool got warmer.
D. Most of the trees were saved.
4. According to the passage, what was the main cause for people being upset?
A. They didn’t want the trees cut down.
B. They didn’t want to read scientific reports.
C. They wanted the water temperature to be warmer.
D. They didn’t want to attend public hearings.

Guided Practice with Cause and Effect
1. Why did the Parks Department plan to cut down the trees?
A. They held public hearings, and people wanted the trees cut down.
B. The Parks Department said the trees were unsafe.
C. The Parks Department made a choice because of some e-mails.
C. They decided to cut down the trees because people were upset.
2. Why would cutting down the trees raise the temperature of the water in the pool?
A. because the scientific reports measured the water temperature
B. because people would be so upset
C. because the loss of trees would take away the shade over the pool
D. because global warming was making the summers hotter

Guided Practice with Cause and Effect
3. What was the effect of the public hearings?
A. The Parks Department cut down all the trees.
B. E-mails went out all over town.
C. The water in the pool got warmer.
D. Most of the trees were saved.
4. According to the passage, what was the main cause for people being upset?
A. They didn’t want the trees cut down.
B. They didn’t want to read scientific reports.
C. They wanted the water temperature to be warmer.
D. They didn’t want to attend public hearings.

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