Cause and Effect in Informational Texts

تانية بكالوريا English

الدرس ده عن إيه؟

A cause is why something happens. An effect is what happens as a result. Informational texts (reports, articles, leaflets) often explain problems by showing their causes and effects.

الدرس ده عن سؤالين بسيطين جدًا: ليه حصل كده؟ (ده السبب = cause) وحصل إيه بعد كده؟ (دي النتيجة = effect). النصوص المعلوماتية (informational texts) زي التقارير والمقالات العلمية مليانة أسباب ونتايج، والامتحان بيسألك عليهم كتير.

في الكتاب المهارة دي في Unit 4 (تقرير رسمي عن أسباب ونتايج هدر الأكل food waste)، وفي Unit 5: The Greenhouse Effect (أسباب ونتايج التغير المناخي). الكتاب بيقول في أهداف Unit 5: «analyze informational texts … to identify the causes, effects and evidence of climate change» وعنده جدول اسمه Cause-and-Effect Structure بيعرّف المهارة: «Show the relationship between why something happens (cause) and what happens as a result (effect).»

الفكرة ببساطة: «علشان كده»

Ask two questions: Why? → the answer is the cause. What happened next? → the answer is the effect. The cause always happens first.

فكّر فيها زي الدومينو: أول قطعة بتقع (السبب) فبتوقّع اللي بعدها (النتيجة). مثال من حياتك: «سهرت على الموبايل ← صحيت متأخر ← اتأخرت على المدرسة». كل خطوة هي نتيجة للي قبلها وسبب للي بعدها. ده اسمه cause-and-effect chain (سلسلة أسباب ونتائج).

• Families buy more food than they need, so a lot of it goes off before it is eaten.السبب: بيشتروا أكتر من احتياجهم. النتيجة: الأكل بيبوظ. كلمة so = علشان كده.
• Because temperatures are rising, glaciers are melting faster.السبب: الحرارة بتزيد. النتيجة: الجليد بيدوب. because قبل السبب.
• Melting ice leads to rising sea levels.السبب: الجليد اللي بيدوب. النتيجة: مستوى البحر بيعلى. leads to = بيؤدي إلى.

كلمات الربط اللي بتدلّك على السبب والنتيجة

Signal words help you find causes and effects. Some come before the cause, others come before the effect. Notice what follows each one: a noun phrase, a full clause, or a new sentence.

ده الجدول اللي الكتاب بيعرضه في Unit 5 (جزء Writing in Action: كلمات الربط بتاعة السبب والنتيجة)، ومعاه شرح لكل كلمة. أهم حاجة في القراءة: تعرف الكلمة دي قبلها إيه وبعدها إيه.

سبب ونتيجة من غير كلمات ربط

Sometimes there is no signal word. You must understand the relationship from the meaning or from verbs such as damage, threaten, reduce, increase, trigger, contribute to.

مش دايمًا الكاتب هيكتب because أو as a result. ساعات بيستخدم أفعال معناها سبب ونتيجة، وساعات بيحط جملتين ورا بعض وإنت تفهم من المعنى.

• The summer was extremely hot. Many farmers lost half of their crops.مفيش كلمة ربط، بس المعنى واضح: الحر الشديد (سبب) ← خسارة المحصول (نتيجة).
• Supermarkets reject fruit with small marks on its skin. Tonnes of perfectly good apples never reach the shelves.السبب: السوبر ماركت بيرفض الفاكهة اللي فيها علامات. النتيجة: أطنان تفاح ميوصلش الرفوف.

إزاي تقرا نص معلوماتي وتطلّع الأسباب والنتائج؟

1. اعرف المشكلة الأساسية من العنوان وأول فقرة (مثلًا: food waste أو coral bleaching).
2. علّم على كلمات الربط (because, due to, as a result, leads to …) وإنت بتقرا.
3. لكل كلمة ربط اسأل: اللي قبلها سبب ولا نتيجة؟ واللي بعدها إيه؟
4. ارسم السلسلة بأسهم صغيرة في الهامش: سبب ← نتيجة ← نتيجة.
5. افصل بين الأسباب الكتير والنتائج الكتير: ساعات حاجة واحدة ليها 3 أسباب، وساعات سبب واحد ليه نتايج كتير.
6. ارجع للسؤال: هو عايز السبب (Why … ? / What causes … ?) ولا النتيجة (What happens when … ? / What is the effect of … ?)؟

نص للشرح (Report)

النص ده مكتوب للتدريب على موضوع Unit 4 (هدر الأكل). اقراه وبعدين شوف إزاي فكّكناه.

Why Good Food Ends Up in the Bin

(1) Around the world, roughly one third of the food produced for people is never eaten. This report looks at why so much food is wasted and what this waste means for households and for the planet.

(2) Waste begins long before food reaches our kitchens. Because supermarkets prefer fruit and vegetables that look perfect, farmers often throw away produce with small marks or unusual shapes. In hot countries, poor storage is another cause. Without refrigerated lorries, milk and fish can spoil during a single journey.

(3) At home, the main causes are poor planning and confusing labels. Many families shop without a list, so they buy more than they can use. Others misunderstand the difference between a 'best before' date, which is about quality, and a 'use by' date, which is about safety. As a result, they throw away food that is still perfectly safe to eat. Special occasions add to the problem: during large family meals, hosts often cook far more than guests can eat.

(4) The effects are serious. Financially, an average family may lose a significant part of its monthly food budget. Environmentally, wasted food that ends up in landfill produces methane, a greenhouse gas which is far more powerful than carbon dioxide. Wasted food also means wasted water, energy and land, all of which were used to grow, transport and package it.

(5) The report concludes that small changes can make a big difference. Planning meals, storing food correctly and sharing extra food with neighbours or charities can reduce waste, save money and protect the environment at the same time.

تفكيك النص: الأسباب والنتائج

لاحظ إن الفقرة 4 كلها نتائج (effects): نتيجة مالية (financially) ونتيجة بيئية (environmentally). والكاتب بدأها بجملة «The effects are serious.» علشان يقولك: من هنا هتلاقي النتايج.

وده مثال على سلسلة (chain) من النص:

• No shopping list → buying too much → food goes off → food is thrown away → methane in landfillخمس حلقات: كل حلقة نتيجة للي قبلها وسبب للي بعدها. أسئلة «explain how X leads to Y» عايزاك تشرح الحلقات اللي في النص.
• Wasted food also means wasted water, energy and land.نتيجة مش مباشرة: لما الأكل بيترمي، كل الموارد اللي اتصرفت عليه بتضيع كمان. الفعل means هنا بيدل على نتيجة.

إزاي بييجي في الأسئلة؟

النوع 1 — Choose the correct answer:

According to paragraph 3, families throw away safe food because they ______

a. buy food without checking its price

b. confuse 'best before' with 'use by' dates

c. do not have refrigerated lorries

d. prefer fruit that looks perfect

الإجابة b. السؤال حدد paragraph 3 وقال safe food. الجملة في النص: «Others misunderstand the difference … As a result, they throw away food that is still perfectly safe». (c) و(d) أسباب حقيقية بس في الفقرة 2 ومش عن الأكل الـ safe في البيت.

النوع 2 — Explain (سلسلة):

Q: Explain how shopping without a list can harm the environment. Use the text.

Model answer: When families shop without a list, they buy more than they can use, so some food goes off and is thrown away. This wasted food often ends up in landfill, where it produces methane, a greenhouse gas which is far more powerful than carbon dioxide. In addition, the water, energy and land used to produce the food are wasted.

الإجابة ربطت فقرة 3 بفقرة 4 وعملت سلسلة كاملة بكلمات ربط (so, where, In addition).

النوع 3 — True / False + Justification:

Statement: According to the report, food waste only affects families' money.

Answer: False. Justification: «Environmentally, wasted food that ends up in landfill produces methane».

كلمة only في الجملة هي الفخ: النص ذكر نتيجة مالية ونتيجة بيئية.

تدريب

التدريب الأول: في كل جملة حدد السبب (C) والنتيجة (E).

1. 1. Due to rising temperatures, coral reefs are losing their colour.

   Show answer

   C: rising temperatures — E: coral reefs are losing their colour. (due to + السبب)

2. 2. Hurricanes have become more intense, so many coastal families have been forced to move.

   Show answer

   C: more intense hurricanes — E: families forced to move. (so + النتيجة)

3. 3. Deforestation results in the loss of biodiversity.

   Show answer

   C: deforestation — E: loss of biodiversity. (results in = النتيجة بعدها)

4. 4. The loss of biodiversity results from deforestation.

   Show answer

   C: deforestation — E: loss of biodiversity. نفس المعنى، بس results from = السبب بعدها.

5. 5. Many shoppers spend more than they planned. One reason is the countdown clocks used during online sales.

   Show answer

   C: countdown clocks — E: shoppers spend more than planned. (One reason is = السبب)

6. 6. Ocean acidification is caused by the sea absorbing carbon dioxide.

   Show answer

   C: the sea absorbing carbon dioxide — E: ocean acidification. (is caused by + السبب)

التدريب التاني: اقرا النص ده (Unit 5) وجاوب.

When the Sea Turns White

(1) Coral reefs cover less than one per cent of the ocean floor, yet they support around a quarter of all marine species. Today, these underwater cities are in danger, and the Red Sea, famous for its colourful reefs, is not completely safe.

(2) The main threat is warmer water. Corals live together with tiny algae that give them food and colour. When the sea becomes too hot for several weeks, the corals push the algae out. Consequently, they turn white, a process known as bleaching. Bleached corals are not dead, but they are starving, and if the heat continues, many of them die.

(3) Warmer water is not the only problem. Because the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, sea water is slowly becoming more acidic. This acidification makes it harder for corals to build their skeletons. In addition, careless tourism damages reefs directly: divers who touch or stand on coral can break pieces that took decades to grow.

(4) The loss of reefs would affect people as well as fish. Reefs protect coastlines from strong waves, and thousands of jobs in diving, fishing and hotels depend on them. Scientists say that cutting emissions, creating protected marine areas and training tourist guides could give reefs a better chance of recovery.

1. 7. According to paragraph 2, corals turn white because ______ a. divers touch them b. they push out the algae when the water is too hot c. they absorb too much carbon dioxide d. fish eat the algae

   Show answer

   b — «When the sea becomes too hot … the corals push the algae out. Consequently, they turn white». (a) و(c) أسباب لمشاكل تانية في الفقرة 3.

2. 8. The word «Consequently» in paragraph 2 introduces ______ a. a cause b. an example c. a result d. a contrast

   Show answer

   c — consequently = ونتيجة لكده. بعدها النتيجة (they turn white).

3. 9. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a cause of damage to reefs? a. warmer water b. acidification c. careless tourism d. plastic bags

   Show answer

   d — الأكياس البلاستيك مش مذكورة. سؤال NOT محتاج تشطب اللي موجود في النص.

4. 10. Complete the chain from paragraph 3: The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide → ______ → corals find it harder to build their skeletons.

   Show answer

   sea water becomes more acidic (acidification) — دي الحلقة اللي في النص.

5. 11. State whether the statement is True (T) or False (F). Justify your answer. Bleached corals are already dead.

   Show answer

   False — Justification: «Bleached corals are not dead, but they are starving».

6. 12. State whether the statement is True (T) or False (F). Justify your answer. The loss of coral reefs would have effects on people's jobs.

   Show answer

   True — Justification: «thousands of jobs in diving, fishing and hotels depend on them».

7. 13. Find a sentence in paragraph 4 that shows reefs protect people.

   Show answer

   «Reefs protect coastlines from strong waves» — دي نتيجة مفيدة للبشر.

8. 14. What TWO effects on people would the loss of reefs have? Answer in your own words.

   Show answer

   1) Coasts would be less protected from strong waves. 2) Many people who work in diving, fishing and tourism could lose their jobs. — الكاتب بدأ الفقرة بـ «affect people as well as fish».

9. 15. Choose an appropriate heading for paragraph 3. a. More Than One Danger b. How Algae Feed Corals c. The Best Places to Dive d. Good News for Reefs

   Show answer

   a — الفقرة بدأت بـ «Warmer water is not the only problem» وذكرت سببين تانيين.

التدريب التالت: اختار كلمة الربط المناسبة اللي تخلي معنى السبب والنتيجة صح.

1. 16. ______ poor storage, a lot of fruit spoils before it reaches the market. a. As a result b. Due to c. So d. Because

   Show answer

   b — بعدها اسم (poor storage) فمحتاجين due to. because محتاجة جملة كاملة.

2. 17. The family did not plan their meals. ______, they threw away a lot of bread. a. Because of b. Since c. As a result d. Owing to

   Show answer

   c — بعد نقطة وفي أول جملة جديدة فيها النتيجة.

3. 18. Burning fossil fuels ______ global warming. a. results from b. is caused by c. contributes to d. is due to

   Show answer

   c — burning fossil fuels هو السبب، فمحتاجين فعل بعده النتيجة. (a) و(b) و(d) بيقلبوا الاتجاه.

4. 19. ______ the sea is getting warmer, many fish are moving north. a. Since b. Due to c. Consequently d. Because of

   Show answer

   a — بعدها جملة كاملة (the sea is getting) وهي السبب.

التدريب الرابع (JRE والتحليل):

1. 20. In «Why Good Food Ends Up in the Bin», which cause of food waste do you think is the easiest to solve? Justify your answer with evidence from the text.

   Show answer

   Model: I think poor planning is the easiest cause to solve. This is because it does not need money or new technology. According to the text, many families shop without a list, so they buy more than they can use. A simple list could therefore prevent a lot of waste. — J + R + E + شرح.

2. 21. Do you think the writer of «When the Sea Turns White» provides enough evidence to convince readers that reefs are in danger? Why or why not?

   Show answer

   Model: Partly. The writer explains clearly how heat causes bleaching and gives a fact about reefs supporting a quarter of marine species. However, there are no numbers showing how many reefs have already been lost, so more statistics would make the text more convincing. — نفس سؤال الكتاب في Unit 5.

3. 22. Explain how warmer water can lead to the death of corals. Use the cause-and-effect chain in the text.

   Show answer

   Model: When the water stays too hot for several weeks, corals push out the algae that give them food. As a result, they turn white and start starving. If the heat continues, many of them die. — سلسلة من 3 حلقات بكلمات ربط.