Define 'cause' and 'effect' as they are used in the context of cause-and-effect relationships.

A cause is why something happens, occurring first. An effect is what happens as a result of the cause, occurring after.

Why is it important to identify cause and effect relationships in texts?

Identifying cause and effect helps us understand what is happening and why it is happening.

Cause: It was snowing. Effect: The school bus was delayed.

Signal words indicate the presence of a cause and effect relationship in a text.

I can explain how one event can cause another event to happen.

1
A cause happens first and tells us why something happens, while an effect happens after the cause and tells us what happened.
2
Cause and effect relationships occur every day; for example, if you forget to use sunscreen on a hot day, you’ll get sunburnt.
3
Words like 'so', 'due to', 'because', 'since', and 'if' can be signal words that point to a cause and effect relationship in a sentence.