Cause and Effect in Nonfiction

Cause and Effect in Nonfiction

Read each passage carefully. Identify the cause and effect relationships described in the text. Answer the questions that follow.

The Amazon rainforest is home to an incredible variety of plants and animals. However, deforestation, the clearing of forests for other land uses, is a major problem. When large areas of trees are cut down, the soil becomes exposed to heavy rainfall. This exposure can lead to soil erosion, where the top layers of soil are washed away. Soil erosion can then cause rivers to become clogged with sediment, harming aquatic life.

1. What is a direct cause of soil erosion mentioned in the passage?

2. When large areas of trees are cut down, the soil becomes exposed to  .

3. Soil erosion can cause rivers to become clogged with  , which harms aquatic life.

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century had a profound impact on society. Before the printing press, books were copied by hand, a slow and expensive process. This meant that books were rare and only the wealthy could afford them. With the printing press, books could be produced much faster and at a lower cost. As a result, more people gained access to books and knowledge, leading to a rise in literacy rates and the spread of new ideas across Europe.

4. What was an effect of books being copied by hand before the printing press?

5. The printing press led to a decrease in literacy rates because books became too common.

Match the cause with its effect based on the passages.