Explaining Relationships in Texts · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

How One Thing Leads to Another

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 10-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which word in this sentence points at the relationship? 'Nina practiced every day, so she made the team.'

    • every
    • team
    • so

  2. A text says, 'The library stayed open later. As a result, more kids visited after school.' What happened because the library stayed open later?

    • The library bought new books
    • School ended early that day
    • More kids visited

  3. In the sentence 'The wind knocked the sign down,' the wind is the cause and the sign falling down is the effect.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A text explains that water evaporates, forms clouds, then falls as rain. What must happen before rain can fall?

    EvaporatesClouds formRain falls
    • Clouds form
    • The ground freezes
    • Rivers dry up

  5. A recipe says to chill the dough before baking. This keeps the cookies from spreading too thin. Why does the recipe say to chill the dough?

    Chill doughBakeFirm cookies
    • To make the cookies sweeter
    • To save time in the kitchen
    • So cookies stay thick

  6. A text says a new factory opened in Milltown. More families moved there for jobs. Then a new school was built. What led to the new school being built?

    • The factory closing down
    • Families moved in
    • The old school getting bigger

  7. A text describes how a plant grows: a seed swells with water, then it sprouts, then roots grow into the soil. Which step must come first?

    Seed swellsSproutsRoots grow
    • The seed swells
    • Roots grow into the soil
    • The plant flowers

  8. In the sentence 'The lights went out as a result of the storm,' the storm is the effect.

    Circle one:   True   False

  9. A text says a town opened a bike path the same year fewer people drove to work. Which detail would show the path really caused the drop in driving?

    • The town also opened a post office
    • Riders left cars for the path
    • The path is painted green

  10. Omar reads that his town's team won a big game on the same day it rained. He says the rain made the team win. Is he right?

    • Yes, rain always helps teams win
    • Yes, because the rain came first
    • No, they just happened together
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_iv-BJS9W60-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

How One Thing Leads to Another W1-mt_iv-BJS9W60-s1

  1. so · The word so joins Nina's practicing to its result, making the team.
  2. More kids visited · The words as a result point from the cause, staying open later, to its effect, more kids visiting.
  3. True · The wind acts first and makes the sign fall, so the wind is the cause and the falling sign is the effect.
  4. Clouds form · Each step depends on the one before it: evaporation forms clouds, and clouds bring rain.
  5. So cookies stay thick · The text gives the reason right there: chilling keeps them thick.
  6. Families moved in · The factory started the chain, and the arriving families are the link that led to the new school.
  7. The seed swells · The process starts with the seed swelling with water. Every later step depends on that first step.
  8. False · The phrase as a result of points back to the cause. The storm caused the outage, so the storm is the cause, not the effect.
  9. Riders left cars for the path · A real cause needs a real link. People saying they switched from cars to the path connects the two events.
  10. No, they just happened together · Happening on the same day is not proof of a cause. The text gives no link between the rain and the win.
Worksheet · LightMySky