Key Concepts
| # |
Concept |
Explanation |
| 1 |
Cause |
The event that happens first and is responsible for the second event. |
| 2 |
Effect |
The event that happens as a result of the cause; it always follows the cause. |
| 3 |
Temporal Order |
Cause must precede effect in time; if B occurs before A, A cannot be the cause of B. |
| 4 |
Direct Causality |
A single, clear cause produces a single, clear effect (rare in real-life questions). |
| 5 |
Multiple Causes |
An effect may have two or more simultaneous or sequential causes. |
| 6 |
Immediate vs Remote Cause |
Immediate cause occurs just before the effect; remote cause lies farther back in the chain. |
| 7 |
Immediate vs Remote Effect |
Immediate effect follows instantly; remote effect appears after a gap or through a chain. |
| 8 |
Coincidence |
Two events happening together without any causal link—must be eliminated as an option. |
15 Practice MCQs
1. Event (A): The city municipality hiked water tariffs by 25 %. Event (B): Residents installed more rain-water harvesting units. What is the relation?
**Options:**
A) A is the cause and B is its effect
B) B is the cause and A is its effect
C) Both A and B are independent causes
D) Both A and B are effects of a common cause
Answer: A
Solution: The hike in tariff (A) prompted residents to look for alternatives → harvesting units (B).
Shortcut: Ask “Would B happen without A?” If no → A causes B.
Tag: Direct causality
2. Event (A): A cyclone warning was issued. Event (B): Coastal schools were closed the same evening. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Solution:** Warning (A) leads to administrative action (B).
**Shortcut:** Warning → precaution; always warning first.
**Tag:** Immediate cause
3. Event (A): India won the test series. Event (B): The price of cricket bats sold in local shops rose. Relation?
**Answer:** C
**Solution:** No logical causal link; victory does not directly raise bat prices.
**Shortcut:** Sentiment vs Supply-demand; sentiment alone can’t raise price.
**Tag:** Coincidence
4. Event (A): A state announced free bus travel for women. Event (B): The number of female commuters rose sharply. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Direct causality
5. Event (A): A software company saw its share price crash. Event (B): A whistle-blower blog alleged data theft. Relation?
**Answer:** B
**Solution:** Allegation (B) caused panic selling → crash (A).
**Shortcut:** News breaks first, market reacts next.
**Tag:** Cause-effect reversal
6. Event (A): Diesel price dropped by ₹5/litre. Event (B): Truck freight rates fell marginally. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Chain effect
7. Event (A): The RBI reduced repo rate. Event (B): Banks reduced FD interest rates. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Monetary chain
8. Event (A): A district received excess rainfall. Event (B): Mosquito-borne diseases spiked. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Remote effect
9. Event (A): A new faster train was introduced. Event (B): Tourist inflow to the destination rose. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Infrastructure → outcome
10. Event (A): A strict helmet rule was enforced. Event (B): Road accident fatalities dropped. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Policy → effect
11. Event (A): A viral social-media rumour spread. Event (B): Panic buying of salt was observed. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Rumour → behaviour
12. Event (A): A bank launched a 7 % savings scheme. Event (B): The bank’s CASA ratio improved. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Marketing → metric
13. Event (A): A village got 24×7 electricity. Event (B): Small-scale industries mushroomed. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Enabling cause
14. Event (A): A crop disease struck. Event (B): The government raised MSP the next month. Relation?
**Answer:** B
**Solution:** Loss (A) forces relief action (B).
**Shortcut:** Loss first, compensation later.
**Tag:** Effect-cause
15. Event (A): A new metro line opened. Event (B): Real-estate prices near stations rose. Relation?
**Answer:** A
**Tag:** Infrastructure → price effect
Speed Tricks
| Situation |
Shortcut |
Example |
| 1 Warning → Action |
Warning is always first |
Cyclone warning → school closure |
| 2 Price-hike → Shift to substitute |
Tariff hike → rain-water harvesting |
Pick “A causes B” |
| 3 Sentiment vs Supply |
Sentiment alone rarely changes price |
Victory → bat price (coincidence) |
| 4 Loss → Relief |
Loss event first, relief next |
Crop disease → MSP hike (B causes A) |
| 5 Policy enforcement → Metric change |
Rule first, statistic later |
Helmet rule → fatality drop |
Quick Revision
| Point |
Detail |
| 1 |
Cause always happens before effect. |
| 2 |
If you can insert “because” between two statements, the first is the cause. |
| 3 |
Common-cause options: look for a third hidden factor. |
| 4 |
Coincidence = no logical mechanism linking the two. |
| 5 |
Immediate cause = last link in the chain just before effect. |
| 6 |
Remote cause = earlier link; may be policy, nature, economy. |
| 7 |
Sentiment or pride (winning match) ≠ direct cause of price. |
| 8 |
Government warning/alarm → preventive action (always cause first). |
| 9 |
Infrastructure creation → long-term usage/economic effect. |
| 10 |
In twin-statement questions, never pick “independent cause” if one clearly follows the other. |
BETA
