Cause & Effect — Prices vs weather shock. I. Vegetable prices in the local market have increased manifold in recent days. II. Incessant rains have created flood-like conditions in most rural parts of the state.

Introduction / Context:Weather shocks disrupt supply chains. Flood-like conditions reduce harvest, damage logistics, and raise prices. The pair asks whether the meteorological event (II) can immediately cause the price spike (I).

Given Data / Assumptions:

• II: Incessant rains → flood-like conditions in rural production zones.
• I: Recent substantial rise in vegetable prices locally.
• Floods impede harvesting and transport, cut supply, and increase costs.

Concept / Approach:Basic supply-demand logic: negative supply shock shifts the supply curve left, raising equilibrium prices, holding demand constant.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:Price data often spike after weather-induced crop losses; this matches the stem.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:A reverses direction; C/D claim independence; here causality is direct.

Common Pitfalls:Overlooking transport bottlenecks as part of the effective supply reduction.

Final Answer:if statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.