In each of the following questions, two statements numbered I and II are…
2024
In each of the following questions, two statements numbered I and II are given. There may be cause and effect relationship between the two statements. These two statements may be the effect of the same cause or independent causes. These statements may be independent causes without having any relationship. Read both the statements in each question and mark your answer as
Statements:
I. The prices of vegetables have been increased considerably during this summer.
II. There is tremendous increase in the temperature during this summer thereby damaging crops greatly.
- A.
Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
- B.
Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
- C.
Both the statements I and II are independent causes
- D.
Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept:
In cause-and-effect reasoning items, two statements can relate in one of four ways: one statement is the cause and the other its direct effect, both are independent causes unrelated to each other, both are effects of one common but unstated cause, or the two statements are simply unconnected. A change in a physical or environmental condition (such as weather) is usually the trigger for a related change in an economic or market outcome (such as price) — not the other way round, since market prices cannot alter the weather.
Application:
Statement II reports a rise in temperature that damages crops — a change in growing conditions. Statement I reports a rise in vegetable prices — a market outcome for the same commodity. Damage to crops cuts the harvested supply of vegetables; with supply reduced, prices for that produce rise. So the event in Statement II precedes and directly produces the event in Statement I.
Why not the other options:
Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect — this reverses the sequence: a rise in market price is an economic response and cannot, by itself, raise atmospheric temperature or damage crops.
Both statements are independent causes — this fits only when the two statements' subject matter has no bearing on each other; here both concern the same commodity in the same season, so they cannot be treated as unconnected.
Both statements are effects of independent causes — this fits only when some separate, unstated factor produces each outcome on its own; here one statement's event is close enough in subject and timing to directly explain the other, so no third unstated cause is needed.
Result:
Because the temperature rise directly explains the price rise through crop damage and reduced supply, statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.