Monsoon impact reasoning: water levels in city tanks rose over a fortnight and trains were cancelled due to water-logging — classify whether these are effects of a common cause or direct cause–effect
Verbal Reasoning
Cause and Effect
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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AStatement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
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BStatement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
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CBoth the statements I and II are independent causes
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DBoth the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
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EBoth the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
Answer
Correct Answer: Both the statements I and II are effects of some common cause
Explanation
Given data
- I: Water level in all city supply tanks increased during the last fortnight.
- II: Most trains were cancelled last week due to water-logging on tracks.
Concept/Approach
Heavy rainfall is the natural common cause: it raises reservoir levels and causes water-logging that disrupts railways.
Step-by-step reasoning1) Common cause: persistent heavy rains.2) Effect A: storage tanks fill (I).3) Effect B: tracks water-logged causing cancellations (II).
Verification/Alternative
I does not cause II (tanks filling does not water-log tracks) and II does not cause I.
Common pitfalls
- Forcing a direct link where separate downstream effects explain the situation better.
Final AnswerBoth the statements I and II are effects of some common cause.