Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Foundations of Reading Practice Exam

Which of the following is an example of a cause and effect text structure?

1. Listing items needed for a recipe

2. Describing the aftermath of a historical event

3. Comparing two literary works

4. Narrating a personal story

The correct answer is: Describing the aftermath of a historical event

The selection that exemplifies a cause and effect text structure focuses on demonstrating how events or actions lead to specific outcomes. In this case, describing the aftermath of a historical event reveals not only what happened subsequently, but also implicitly suggests the events that caused those outcomes. This analysis of the relationship between actions or events and their consequences is the hallmark of cause and effect structure, effectively guiding readers to understand the significance and implications of past occurrences. In contrast, the other selections do not fit this structure. Listing items needed for a recipe simply presents a collection of necessary ingredients without exploring relationships between events. Comparing two literary works focuses on similarities and differences rather than causation and effects. Narrating a personal story typically emphasizes the sequence of events without delving into the causal relationships that inform them. Thus, option B stands out as the clear illustration of a cause and effect text structure.