CAUSE & EFFECT

Writing Skill Practice: GROUP EXERCISES

SESSION 1
Girl : It's very cold. Poke the fire for a change, please!
Boy : Okay. It's a cold and wet day. Do you realize how much coal must be burned to warm
the country in winter?
Girl : It must be a lot.
Boy : It definitely is. Not long ago, people mostly made fires using wood. It is perhaps the
most common fuel all over the world. These days, most people don't use wood for fires
anymore.
Girl : Could it be because we don't have much wood anymore, due to deforestation?
Boy : I think so, but it's also because more practical resources have been found.
Girl : Practical? How?
Boy : Well, first of all, it’s hard to find wood these days. It’s also impractical because it’s hard
to carry around. It also takes time to light a fire using wood.
Girl : What about kerosene and LPG?
Boy : Although kerosene is still widely used all around the world, the majority of people may
have turned to LPG. I think using LPG is much more practical, because it lasts longer, you can
control the fire better, and it's easier to light. These days, there are small, portable gas stoves
that you can carry around, for example during camping like this. Using a kerosene stove when
camping would be much harder. 
Check your comprehension by answering the following questions.
a. Where does the dialogue probably take place
b. Why is it more difficult to find wood?
c. Why is wood impractical for making a fire?
d. What does the boy think about kerosene and LPG?
e. Underline all statements that express cause and effect.

SESSION 2
Dear Melati,
As far as I know, natural gas occurs deep beneath the earth's surface. Natural gas consists mainly of
methane, a compound with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Natural gas contains small
amounts of hydrocarbon gas liquids and non- hydrocarbon gases. (1)____ those gas contents,  natural
gas has no color, odor, and taste. (2)____ its colorless, odorless, and tasteless nature, distributors add
mercaptan (a chemical that smells like sulfur) to give natural gas a distinct unpleasant odor (it smells
like rotten eggs).  (3)____ it is used as a safety device.  (4)____ in case of leaks, people will detect it
easily.
See you and good luck!
Complete the statements with the appropriate conjunctions signifying cause and effects:
 Therefore
 Also
 Due to
 Because of, etc.
SESSION 3
Compare the usage of English expressions of cause and effects below with your daily expressions.

English Indonesian/Buginess/Javaness/etc.
English is very important; Therefore, we should
study English hard.
Can’t you see that a person’s financial limitations
can also cause poverty?
Don’t you know that corruption leads to poverty
as well?
The reduction of programs is caused by
prolonged economic crisis.
Due to their lack of knowledge and information,
people get angry easily.
Our children will grow better because of a good
environment from an early age.

SESSION 4
Complete the following short message by completing the text. The topic is “automobile accidents in
America”. Study the diagram below to help you understand .

Cause 1 Cause 2

Loss of judgement
Lowered
alertness Reduced ability to track moving object

Difficulty in steering
Alcohol Less muscle
control Reduced ability to maintain lane
position and brake appropriate

Harder to Reduced response to accidents

detect emergency driving
danger

Dear Bayu,
I was shocked to hear about your experience of seeing a car accident on the road.
Let me tell you what I saw on a TV show, it was stated that the majority of automobile accidents in
America result from alcohol consumption. When someone drinks alcohol, it will go into the blood and it
will show up in a blood test. When alcohol has reached a certain level in blood, people will
experience_____, which can cause_____ and _____, beside lowered alertness,______, causing______ and
_______, people in a state of drunkenness also_______. It may________. As a result, they might either hit
a car or a person, not only killing or injuring themselves but also other people, and their car will even be
wrecked. Therefore, the government has established stricter laws against drunk drivers. I hope this
information helps you prepare your presentation. Good luck, and don't hesitate to get touch with me.
Good luck,
Raymond