Cause & Effect — Identify the Relationship: I. The school authority has decided to increase tuition fees by 30% from the next academic year. II. The government has urged local residents to enroll all their children in nearby schools. Which option best captures the link between I and II?
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AIf statement (I) is the cause and statement (II) is its effect
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BIf statement (II) is the cause and statement (I) is its effect
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CIf both statements (I) and (II) are independent causes
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DIf both statements (I) and (II) are effects of independent causes
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EIf (I) and (II) are unrelated facts
Answer
Correct Answer: If both statements (I) and (II) are effects of independent causes
Explanation
Introduction / Context:The stem combines a private/school-level pricing decision with a public exhortation to enroll children. We must test whether one action causes the other.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- I: A 30% fee hike from next year (institutional decision).
- II: Government urging universal enrolment (public policy messaging).
- No explicit dependency or timing cause is provided.
Concept / Approach:These actions plausibly originate from different drivers: (I) cost inflation/budgeting at schools; (II) educational outreach/Right-to-Education goals. Without a stated link, treat both as effects of separate causes.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Examine I→II: A fee hike would not logically cause the government to urge enrolment; urging typically fights dropouts, not fee-linked.2) Examine II→I: A government urge to enroll does not prompt a private fee hike.3) Conclude both are effects of independent underlying causes.Verification / Alternative check:Even if the government push increases demand, schools would not automatically respond with a fixed 30% hike from next year absent cost reasons.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:They impose a direction that isn’t supported; “unrelated” is too strong given both concern schooling but still lack causality.
Common Pitfalls:Inferring causation from thematic similarity (both about schooling).
Final Answer:Option D: Both statements are effects of independent causes.