Test Taking Skills - Cause and Effect
STEP
DESCRIPTION
Use the QAR technique.
1
2
Read the question carefully. Is it asking for a cause or an effect? Cause and effect
questions ask you to analyze the relationship between an action or event, its causes,
and its effects.
3
A cause is something that leads to the event. Why did this event happen? What are the
factors that caused this event? Clue words for cause include because, due to, since,
therefore, so, first, this leads to, hence, before, if, for this reason.
4
An effect is something that is a result of the event. What happened because of this
event? What was its impact on future events? Clue words for effect include leading to,
consequently, in response to, then, after, for this reason, later, so, as a result, this led to,
hence.
Predict an answer based on the relationship you found.
5
Read all answer choices carefully. Look for clue words for cause or effect.
6
Eliminate the wrong choices.
7
Does your choice answer the question?
8
Choose the most correct answer.
9
Adapted From Raphael, T.E. Teaching Question-Answer Relationships (1986)
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
Test Taking Skills - Cause and Effect
Page 1
Test Taking Skills - Cause and Effect
Base your answers to
questions
and 35 on
the time
line below
and onbelow
your knowledge
Look
for the34common
theme
linking
the events
together of social studies.
1948
Alger Hiss is accused
of spying.
1947
1949
Soviet Union tests
atomic bomb.
1951
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
are tried for spying.
1949
1947
House Un-American Activities
Committee holds hearings
on Hollywood Ten.
1951
1953
The Rosenbergs
are executed.
1953
1955
1954
1950
Senator Joseph McCarthy
criticizes the State Department.
The Army-McCarthy
hearings are televised.
Source: The American Journey: Time Line Activities, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill (adapted)
34 The events shown on theClue
timeWord
line occurred
a result
of
asking as
you
to determine
the cause of the events above
(1) the bombing of Pearl Harbor
(3) a need for collective security
(2) the launching of Sputnik
(4) a fear of communism
The events35shown
on the time line occurred as a result of Which civil liberty was most seriously threatened during the period shown on the time
line?
A) the bombing
of Pearl Harbor
(1) freedom of speech
B) a need(2)
forfreedom
collective
security
of religion
C) the launching of Sputnik
D)• aInfear
of communism
36
the 1940s,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
(3) the right to bear arms
(4) the right to petition the government
37 The United Nations was created mainly to
(1) prevent globalization
(2) work for international peace
(3) stop the spread of disease
(4) establish democratic governments
made winning World War II a priority over
extending the New Deal.
• In the 1950s, President Harry Truman’s focus
shifted from the Fair Deal to the Korean War.
• In the 1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s
Choice
Question
attention to the Great
Society gave way to
preoccupation with the Vietnam War.
Rationale
38 The United States policy of détente can best be
No
Pearl
Harbor
was the as
direct
cause to
of the United States
described
an effort
Was Pearl Harbor the direct
entering
World
War
II.
These presidential
actions
best
support
the
cause of the events listed
(1) reduce tensions with the Soviet Union
conclusion that
above?
(2) negotiate peace agreements with North Korea
(1) presidents prefer their role as commander in
(3) halt the arms race with China
Not exactly - Collective security is based on the idea of nations
chief to that
chief
legislator
Wasofthe
need
for collective
(4) end
an embargo
against of
Cuba
working in the same
interest
and the security
one is the security
(2) domestic
programs
are often
undermined
by
security
the direct
cause
of the
of all - Collective security is part of the Cold War, but not the cause
the outbreakevents
of warlisted above?
of the events above.
(3) Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, and Johnson
were not
their domestic
No - Sputnik was launched in 1957, after all of the events
Wascommitted
the launchingtoof Sputnik
initiatives
mentioned on the timeline.
the direct cause of the events
(4) large domestic reform
programs tend to lead
listed above?
nations toward involvement in foreign wars
A
B
C
D
Was the fear of communism the
direct cause of the events listed
above?
Yes
Adapted From Raphael, T.E. Teaching Question-Answer Relationships (1986)
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
U.S. Hist. & Gov’t.–June ’10
Test Taking Skills - Cause and Effect
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