Cause–Effect reasoning: Identify the relationship between Statement I and Statement II. S1: Prices of food grains and other essential commodities in the open market have risen sharply during the past three months. S2: The opposition political party has called a general strike to protest against the government's economic policy. Choose the correct cause–effect option.

Given data

• S1: Sharp rise in prices of essentials over three months.
• S2: Opposition calls a general strike protesting the government's economic policy.

Concept / Approach
The wording of S2 explicitly ties the strike to the government's economic policy. Price rise (S1) is also commonly an outcome of economic policy (among other factors). Hence both can be traced to a likely common cause: the government's policy stance.

Step-by-step check of options
A: S1 directly causing S2 is possible superficially, but S2 cites policy as the reason, not prices per se. ✖ B: A strike cannot cause the prior three-month price rise. ✖ C: They are not two separate causes; both look like outcomes. ✖ D: Independent unrelated causes are not indicated; both link back to policy. ✖ E: Both are effects of a common cause (government's economic policy). ✔

Final Answer
Both statements I and II are effects of a common cause.