Which signal words indicate cause and effect?

• A. Meanwhile
• B. Therefore
• C. Consequently
• D. Since

Answer: (D)

Cause and effect is shown when a word links a reason to what happens next. Since introduces the reason for an action, pointing to the cause that leads to the outcome in the main clause. For example, Since it was raining, the game was canceled. Here, the rain is the cause and the cancellation is the effect, clearly showing the relationship. Meanwhile points to timing or simultaneous events, not the reason. Therefore and Consequently signal the result that follows a cause, but they indicate the effect rather than the cause itself. So, since directly signals the reason, making it the best choice for indicating cause in this context.