ACT (Enhanced)EnglishMedium
A student is writing a cause-and-effect essay about climate change. They have written the following two sentences: 1. "Deforestation leads to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere." 2. "This excess carbon dioxide traps heat, contributing to global warming." To combine these sentences into one that clearly expresses a cause-and-effect relationship, which of the following revisions is most effective?
- AIncreased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a result of deforestation, and this excess carbon dioxide traps heat, contributing to global warming.
- BDeforestation leads to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and this excess carbon dioxide traps heat, contributing to global warming.
- CBecause deforestation leads to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, this excess carbon dioxide traps heat, contributing to global warming.
- DDeforestation leads to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which in turn traps heat and contributes to global warming.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Deforestation leads to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which in turn traps heat and contributes to global warming.
Option C uses the phrase 'which in turn' to smoothly and clearly connect the two effects in a causal chain: deforestation causes increased CO2, and that CO2 then causes heat trapping and global warming. This creates a concise and unambiguous cause-and-effect statement.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This option is wordy and less direct. It states a result and then uses 'and' to add another effect, making the causal link less clear and elegant than in option C.
- B. While grammatically correct, using 'and' simply lists two facts without explicitly highlighting the causal chain between the CO2 increase and its effect.
- C. Using 'Because' at the beginning makes the entire second clause dependent on the first, but the 'this excess carbon dioxide' feels redundant given the clear antecedent. It's less fluid than 'which in turn.'
Combining Sentences for Cause-Effect
Combining sentences to show cause-and-effect involves using conjunctions, adverbs, or relative clauses that explicitly link an action or event to its consequence.
- Uses specific conjunctions (e.g., because, since, as).
- Employs transitional adverbs (e.g., therefore, consequently, thus).
- Can use relative clauses (e.g., 'which in turn,' 'resulting in').
- Aims for clarity and conciseness in expressing the causal link.
Memory trick: Connect, Clarify, Condense: Make sentences work as one.