Which structure is most likely to show how a policy leads to an outcome?

• A. Chronological structure
• B. Descriptive structure
• C. Cause/effect structure
• D. Compare/contrast structure

Answer: (C)

Understanding how text structure shows cause and effect is about how writers connect actions to results. When a policy is described, the cause is the policy itself and the effect is what happens because of it. In a cause/effect structure, the writer explains how the policy leads to an outcome, often using signal words like because, as a result, therefore, or leads to. This structure makes the link between the policy and the outcome clear and logical, which is exactly what this item is asking you to identify.

Other structures don’t focus on that direct link between a cause and its result. A chronological structure arranges events in the order they happened over time, which shows sequence rather than causation. A descriptive structure provides details about what something is, not necessarily how one thing causes another. A compare/contrast structure highlights similarities and differences between two or more things, rather than showing a cause leading to an effect.

So, when you want to show how a policy leads to a particular outcome, cause/effect is the best fit because it directly maps the policy as the cause to the outcome as the effect.