Cause & Effect — Natural disaster chain. I. Thousands of people drowned and hundreds of houses were swept away in Japan. II. A very high-intensity earthquake occurred off the Japanese coastline.
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AIf I is the immediate cause and II is its effect.
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BIf II is the immediate cause and I is its effect.
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CIf I is the effect but II is not its direct/immediate cause.
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DIf II is the effect but I is not its direct/immediate cause.
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ENone of these
Answer
Correct Answer: If II is the immediate cause and I is its effect.
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Major offshore earthquakes can trigger tsunamis and severe coastal inundation, producing drownings and destruction. The question asks for the immediate causal direction between the disaster outcomes (I) and the seismic event (II).
Given Data / Assumptions:
- II: A high-intensity earthquake off the coast.
- I: Mass drownings and sweeping away of houses in Japan.
- Earthquakes at sea frequently cause tsunamis; tsunamis cause coastal devastation.
Concept / Approach:Seismic event → tsunami/inundation → drownings & structural loss. Hence II is the immediate cause; I is the effect.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) II → I: Consistent with known geophysical chains.2) I → II is impossible: outcomes cannot cause the initiating earthquake.3) Therefore, select B.Verification / Alternative check:Even if landslides or aftershocks contribute, they stem from the primary seismic event.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:A reverses direction; C/D claim non-causality; “None” is unnecessary.
Common Pitfalls:Missing the tsunami step; still, II remains the proximate trigger.
Final Answer:If II is the immediate cause and I is its effect.