Why Cause & Effect Logic Matters
Many GRE Verbal sentences describe a chain: a situation causes a result, or a result is explained by a cause. The blank is usually the effect (or the cause) that logically follows from the other half of the sentence — spotting the connector word tells you exactly which direction the logic runs.
অনেক GRE ভার্বাল বাক্য একটি শৃঙ্খল বর্ণনা করে: একটি পরিস্থিতি একটি ফলাফল সৃষ্টি করে। সংযোগকারী শব্দ চেনা যুক্তির দিক নির্দেশ করে।
The core method: find the cause-effect connector, identify which half is the "given" (cause) and which half needs completing (effect, or vice versa), then predict a word that logically follows — before checking the answer choices.
মূল পদ্ধতি: সংযোগকারী শব্দ খুঁজুন, কোনটি কারণ ও কোনটি ফলাফল চিহ্নিত করুন, তারপর যৌক্তিক শব্দ অনুমান করুন।
The Signal Word Table
| Signals the Cause (comes before the reason) | Signals the Effect (comes before the result) |
|---|---|
| because, since, as, given that | therefore, thus, hence |
| due to, owing to, on account of | consequently, as a result, as a consequence |
| in light of, given | so, accordingly |
| the reason... is that | this means that, this suggests that |
| attributable to, stemming from | leads to, results in, gives rise to |
Cause-effect connectors are continuation-like: unlike contrast words, they usually keep the sentence's logic moving in the same emotional/evaluative direction — a negative cause tends to produce a negative effect, and a positive cause a positive effect, unless a contrast word also appears.
কারণ-ফলাফল সংযোগকারী সাধারণত একই দিকে চলে — নেতিবাচক কারণ নেতিবাচক ফলাফল তৈরি করে, যদি না কোনো বৈপরীত্য শব্দ থাকে।
Worked Examples
"Because the region's economy depends heavily on tourism, a prolonged decline in visitor numbers would inevitably ______ local businesses."
"The committee's decision was based on incomplete data; consequently, several of its key conclusions were later found to be ______."
Common Mistakes
- Reversing cause and effect: "therefore" points forward to the effect, not backward — make sure you know which clause is the blank before predicting.
- Ignoring intensity words: words like "inevitably," "dramatically," or "merely" tell you how strong the effect should be, not just its direction.
- Missing a hidden contrast inside a cause-effect sentence: "Because X, one might expect Y; however, Z" combines both signal types — the final blank follows the contrast, not the original cause.
- Assuming cause-effect always means "bad causes bad": check the actual content — a cause can be framed negatively but produce a mixed or even a mitigating effect if a contrast word intervenes.
Your Turn — Trace the Chain
For each sentence, identify the cause, the effect, and predict the logical direction of the blank. প্রতিটি বাক্যে কারণ, ফলাফল চিহ্নিত করুন এবং ব্ল্যাঙ্কের দিক অনুমান করুন।
Show the logic
Cause: no inspection in a decade. Effect direction: not surprised — a word like unsurprised or hardly startled fits, since neglect logically precedes discovered damage.
Show the logic
Effect: rapid growth. Cause must explain it positively — a word like aggressive or competitive pricing fits, matching "undercut every competitor."
Show the logic
Cause: rising sea levels. Effect: cities must act — a word like reinforce or upgrade fits, opposing the negative alternative "face repeated flooding."
Show the logic
Cause: factual errors. Effect: a word like uncertain or skeptical fits, following logically from an unreliable lecture.
Show the logic
Cause: shortage of materials. Effect: a word like disrupted or delayed fits, matching "delaying shipments" later in the sentence.
Next guide: Definition & Restatement Clues. Apply this skill on Verbal Practice Test 2.
পরের গাইড: সংজ্ঞা ও পুনর্বিবৃতি সংকেত।