Cause and Effect Examples

Little Johnny Wiggins fell down a well on the farm.  His family looked for him.  Finally, at sundown, Mr. Wiggins found Johnny.  He had been trapped in the well for three hours.
CAUSE: Johnny Wiggins fell down a well.
What was the EFFECT?

• He was trapped for three hours.
• His mother found him at sundown.
• He was visiting the farm.

Jessica wanted to be a dancer. She knew that dancers must work every day. She took dance lessons every Tuesday. She practiced a few hours each day.

EFFECT: Jessica practiced every day.

What was the CAUSE?

• She worked hard on Tuesdays.

• She took lessons every day.

• She wanted to be a dancer.

The three men traveled on horseback.  It was a long journey.  They rode all day long.  It was dark when they reached the camp.
EFFECT: It was dark when the men reached camp.
What was the CAUSE?

• They left at dawn.
• The journey was long.
• the horses were tired.

Mark went on a fishing trip with his father.  His father caught three fish.  Mark caught two fish.  Mark's fish were so little that he had to throw them back.
CAUSE: Mark's fish were very small
What was the EFFECT?

• He went fishing with his father.
• His father's fish were very little.
• He had to throw them back.

Policeman sometimes use dogs to help them in their line of work.  Dogs have a good sense of smell.  this makes them useful in tracking down outlaws.  Dogs can also help find stolen goods.
CAUSE: Dogs have a good sense of smell.
What was the EFFECT?

• They are good at stealing.
• They work for outlaws.
• They can track down outlaws.

The clown did a trick on his bicycle.  He went very fast and stood up on his seat.  I am a good bike riders, but not that good.  When I tried the trick, I fell off my bike.
CAUSE: I tried to do a bicycle trick.
What was the EFFECT?

• I am a good bike rider.
• I fell off my bike.
• The clown went very fast.

It is a good idea to lock your door at night.  Mr. Griswold forgot to lock his door last Monday.  When he returned home, he found that his new T.V. set had been stolen.
EFFECT: Mr. Griswold's T.V. was stolen.
What was the CAUSE?

• He went to a show every Monday.
• He forgot to lock his door.
• It was very late.

Someone rang my doorbell last night.  He must have run away, though.  I got up when I heard the bell.  But when I opened the door, there was nobody there.
CAUSE: Someone must have run away.
What was the EFFECT?

• There was nobody at the door.
• I got up  when I heard the bell.
• It was late at night.

Rosa and her friends spent two weeks in a cabin on the lake.  There was no electricity in the cabin.  The girls had to use a lantern for light.  Sometimes they made a fire in the fireplace.
CAUSE: The cabin had no electricity.
What was the EFFECT?

• The cabin was on the lake.
• The girls used a lantern for light.
• There was a fireplace near the cabin.

Bruce dared Katy to go into the dark cave.  Katy wanted to seem brave.  She crawled in and looked around.  It really wasn't so scary after all.
CAUSE: Katy wanted to seem brave.
What was the EFFECT?

• She went into the cave.
• She saw Bruce in the cave.
• She thought the cave was scary.