Introduction
Cause and Effect analogies test your understanding of logical relationships where one term produces or leads to the other. This pattern is crucial because it evaluates your ability to recognize directional reasoning - determining what happens first (cause) and what follows (effect).
Pattern: Cause and Effect Analogy
Pattern
The key concept is: the first word causes or results in the second. Apply the same cause → effect or effect → cause direction to the second pair.
Step-by-Step Example
Question
Rain : Flood :: Study : ______
(A) Sleep (B) Pass (C) Fail (D) Work
Solution
-
Step 1: Identify the relationship in the first pair.
Rain causes Flood - it is a cause → effect relationship. -
Step 2: Apply the same cause → effect direction to the second pair.
Studying causes Passing - cause → effect. -
Final Answer:
Pass → Option B -
Quick Check:
Rain → Flood (cause → effect), Study → Pass (cause → effect) ✅
Quick Variations
1. Natural cause → effect (e.g., Sun : Daylight).
2. Human action → result (e.g., Exercise : Fitness).
3. Negative cause → negative effect (e.g., Negligence : Accident).
4. Reverse reasoning: effect → cause (e.g., Fire : Smoke).
Trick to Always Use
- Step 1 → Ask: “Does the first term happen before or after the second?”
- Step 2 → If it happens before, it’s the cause; find the matching effect in options.
- Step 3 → Maintain the same direction (cause → effect) while choosing the second pair.
Summary
Summary
- Recognize the direction: cause → effect or effect → cause.
- Convert it into a logical sentence: “X leads to Y” or “Y results from X.”
- Maintain the same direction when applying it to the second pair.
- Eliminate unrelated or time-based sequences that are not causal.
Example to remember:
Rain : Flood :: Study : Pass
Hint: Always identify which comes first - the cause or the result - and keep direction consistent.
Common Mistakes: Choosing 'Ice' - that’s a related noun, not an effect of cold.