Causes, effects and solutions: learn

In this lesson you will

Distinguish a root cause from a trigger, and short-term from long-term effects
Build cause–effect chains with accurate verbs and prepositions (stem from, result in, give rise to, a knock-on effect)
Propose a solution and test how realistic it is, rather than listing ideas
Recommend one option in a 60-second TOEIC opinion answer with clear reasons

Before you start

Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.

→Why do so many young adults still live with their parents? Think of one economic cause and one social cause.
→What is the difference between a solution that treats a symptom and one that tackles the root cause?

Beyond “one reason is…”

In Abstract discussion you met cause and solution questions and some useful openers (One major factor is…, The onus should be on…). This lesson goes deeper. A C1 answer explains how causes connect, what the effects lead to, and whether a solution would actually work.

Chains, not lists. Rents rise → people spend more of their income on housing → they save less → they buy a home later, if at all. Link the steps with which in turn, and that means, as a knock-on effect.
Root cause or trigger? A trigger is the event that sets something off; the root cause is the deeper reason it happened. The heatwave triggered the water shortage, but the root cause is decades of under-investment in pipes.
Short term or long term? In the short term… but over time…
Solutions with a reality check. Propose one, say who would do it, and test it: That would go a long way towards…, although it wouldn't solve…

Try not to rely on cause and make for every link. Precise verbs show the direction and the strength of the connection.

Cause and effect: verbs and prepositions
Pattern	Direction	Example
X results in / leads to / gives rise to Y	cause → effect	Longer commutes result in less time for exercise.
Y results from / stems from / arises from X	effect ← cause	Much of the stress stems from job insecurity.
Y is the result of X	effect ← cause	The shortage is the result of years of under-investment.
Y is fuelled by / driven by X	effect ← cause (often growth)	The boom has been fuelled by cheap loans.
X contributes to Y	one of several causes → effect	Screen use late at night contributes to poor sleep.
X has a knock-on effect on Y	an indirect effect	The road closure had a knock-on effect on local shops.
attribute Y to X	effect ← cause	Some experts attribute the change partly to remote working.

Proposing and testing solutions
Move	Useful language
Propose	One obvious step would be to… / What's really needed is… / The most effective approach would probably be to…
Say who	It would be up to… / This is something employers could do tomorrow. / It would need government backing.
Test it	That would go a long way towards… / That would only scratch the surface. / The catch is that… / It treats the symptoms rather than the cause.
Time frame	In the short term… / In the long run… / It wouldn't happen overnight, but…

Chains and reality checks in speech

“Part of the problem stems from the fact that wages haven't kept pace with rents, which in turn means young people can't save for a deposit.”
“Remote working has had a knock-on effect on city-centre cafés, many of which relied on office workers at lunchtime.”
“Banning phones in class would only scratch the surface, because the real issue is how much time children spend online at home.”
“Building more homes would go a long way towards bringing rents down, although it wouldn't happen overnight.”

Gap fill

Get the direction right

Write ONE word in each gap.

1. A lot of workplace stress stems unclear expectations. 2. Cutting the bus service resulted more people driving into town. 3. The flooding was the result heavy rain and poor drainage. 4. Many experts attribute the fall in accidents partly lower speed limits. 5. Cheaper flights have given to a boom in weekend city breaks. 6. The factory closure had a knock-on on local shops. 7. Poor sleep contributes lower concentration at school.

Audio

Model answers: Part 3 on the topic of “Housing”

In the exam you usually hear it once.

Try the questions first.

How a strong speaker does it

Answer 1 (causes and effects)

Names the root cause first: “the root cause is fairly simple: … not enough homes have been built for decades.” The listener immediately knows which cause the speaker thinks matters most.
Builds a chain: investment buyers → higher prices; higher rents → no savings → no deposit. Which in turn and which leaves them carry the logic from one step to the next.
Labels the pattern: “So it's a bit of a vicious circle.” A short summary helps the examiner follow a complex answer.
Moves to effects: “The knock-on effects are quite serious” followed by two concrete consequences.

Answer 2 (solutions)

Proposes, then tests: “build more homes… The catch is that it takes years.”
Separates time frames: a long-term solution, then “in the short term…” a quicker one.
Rejects a weaker solution with a reason: “cash grants… would only scratch the surface… because if buyers have more money, sellers can simply raise their prices.” Explaining why a solution fails is as impressive as proposing one.
Realistic ending: “easier said than done” shows awareness that real problems are hard to solve.

Matching

Root cause, trigger, effect or solution?

Problem: many teachers in one region are leaving the profession. Match each sentence to its role in the explanation. There is one extra role.

Aa short-term knock-on effect
Ba solution aimed at the underlying problem
Cthe root cause
Da counter-argument
Ea possible long-term effect
Fthe trigger
Ga solution that only treats the symptoms

1.For years, teachers' pay has fallen behind other graduate jobs, while their workload has grown.
2.This year, a new inspection system doubled the paperwork almost overnight.
3.Within weeks, several schools had to cancel some classes.
4.Over time, fewer young people may see teaching as a realistic career.
5.Hire temporary staff to cover the empty posts.
6.Raise pay and cut unnecessary paperwork so that teaching is a job people want to stay in.

Speaking task

IELTS Part 3: causes and effects

No preparation, as in Part 3. Name the main cause, build a short chain, and describe at least one knock-on effect on society, not just on individuals. Aim for 45–60 seconds.

Topic: Health. Why do so many people say they don't get enough sleep nowadays? What effects can this have on society?

No preparation time · 1:00 speaking

Speaking task

TOEIC Express an opinion: choose a solution

You have 45 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. Choose ONE option, explain why it deals with the cause of the problem, give an example, and say briefly why another option is weaker.

Some companies are worried that their employees feel stressed at work. Which of the following do you think would be the most effective way for a company to reduce stress among its employees?

offering more flexible working hours
hiring additional staff
providing training in time management

Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

45 s preparation · 1:00 speaking

Save words to review them later with flashcards.

root cause
the deepest, most basic reason for a problem
“Poor pay is the root cause of the staff shortage.”
trigger
an event that causes something to start happening
“The price rise was the trigger for the protests.”
stem from
to be caused by or develop from something
“Many of her worries stem from a lack of sleep.”
give rise to
to cause something to happen or exist
“The new law gave rise to a lot of confusion.”
a knock-on effect
an indirect result of something that has happened
“The strike had a knock-on effect on deliveries across the country.”
a vicious circle
a situation in which one problem causes another, which makes the first problem worse
“Stress causes poor sleep, which causes more stress: it's a vicious circle.”
fuelled by
made stronger or bigger by something
“The boom was fuelled by cheap credit.”
keep pace with
to increase or develop at the same speed as something else
“Salaries haven't kept pace with the cost of living.”
scratch the surface
to deal with only a small part of a problem or subject
“The new funding barely scratches the surface of the problem.”
go a long way towards
to help a lot to achieve something
“Better lighting would go a long way towards making the park safer.”
the catch is
used to introduce a hidden problem or disadvantage
“The flat is cheap. The catch is that it's two hours from the city.”
take a toll on
to have a bad effect on something over time
“Years of night shifts took a toll on his health.”

Key points

Build chains, not lists: cause → effect → knock-on effect (which in turn…).
Separate the root cause from the trigger, and short-term from long-term effects.
Watch the direction: X results in Y (cause first); Y results from or stems from X (effect first).
Propose a solution, say who would do it, and test it: That would go a long way towards… The catch is…
In TOEIC Express an opinion, choose one option and justify it; don't try to cover them all.

Check your answers in the practice exercises to record a score.

Up next · Speaking C1 Advanced

Examples, anecdotes and analogies

Go to lesson

In this lesson you will

Distinguish a root cause from a trigger, and short-term from long-term effects
Build cause–effect chains with accurate verbs and prepositions (stem from, result in, give rise to, a knock-on effect)
Propose a solution and test how realistic it is, rather than listing ideas
Recommend one option in a 60-second TOEIC opinion answer with clear reasons

Before you start

Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.

→Why do so many young adults still live with their parents? Think of one economic cause and one social cause.
→What is the difference between a solution that treats a symptom and one that tackles the root cause?

Beyond “one reason is…”

Chains, not lists. Rents rise → people spend more of their income on housing → they save less → they buy a home later, if at all. Link the steps with which in turn, and that means, as a knock-on effect.
Root cause or trigger? A trigger is the event that sets something off; the root cause is the deeper reason it happened. The heatwave triggered the water shortage, but the root cause is decades of under-investment in pipes.
Short term or long term? In the short term… but over time…
Solutions with a reality check. Propose one, say who would do it, and test it: That would go a long way towards…, although it wouldn't solve…

Try not to rely on cause and make for every link. Precise verbs show the direction and the strength of the connection.

Cause and effect: verbs and prepositions
Pattern	Direction	Example
X results in / leads to / gives rise to Y	cause → effect	Longer commutes result in less time for exercise.
Y results from / stems from / arises from X	effect ← cause	Much of the stress stems from job insecurity.
Y is the result of X	effect ← cause	The shortage is the result of years of under-investment.
Y is fuelled by / driven by X	effect ← cause (often growth)	The boom has been fuelled by cheap loans.
X contributes to Y	one of several causes → effect	Screen use late at night contributes to poor sleep.
X has a knock-on effect on Y	an indirect effect	The road closure had a knock-on effect on local shops.
attribute Y to X	effect ← cause	Some experts attribute the change partly to remote working.

Proposing and testing solutions
Move	Useful language
Propose	One obvious step would be to… / What's really needed is… / The most effective approach would probably be to…
Say who	It would be up to… / This is something employers could do tomorrow. / It would need government backing.
Test it	That would go a long way towards… / That would only scratch the surface. / The catch is that… / It treats the symptoms rather than the cause.
Time frame	In the short term… / In the long run… / It wouldn't happen overnight, but…

Chains and reality checks in speech

“Part of the problem stems from the fact that wages haven't kept pace with rents, which in turn means young people can't save for a deposit.”
“Remote working has had a knock-on effect on city-centre cafés, many of which relied on office workers at lunchtime.”
“Banning phones in class would only scratch the surface, because the real issue is how much time children spend online at home.”
“Building more homes would go a long way towards bringing rents down, although it wouldn't happen overnight.”

Gap fill

Get the direction right

Write ONE word in each gap.

Audio

Model answers: Part 3 on the topic of “Housing”

In the exam you usually hear it once.

Try the questions first.

How a strong speaker does it

Answer 1 (causes and effects)

Names the root cause first: “the root cause is fairly simple: … not enough homes have been built for decades.” The listener immediately knows which cause the speaker thinks matters most.
Builds a chain: investment buyers → higher prices; higher rents → no savings → no deposit. Which in turn and which leaves them carry the logic from one step to the next.
Labels the pattern: “So it's a bit of a vicious circle.” A short summary helps the examiner follow a complex answer.
Moves to effects: “The knock-on effects are quite serious” followed by two concrete consequences.

Answer 2 (solutions)

Proposes, then tests: “build more homes… The catch is that it takes years.”
Separates time frames: a long-term solution, then “in the short term…” a quicker one.
Rejects a weaker solution with a reason: “cash grants… would only scratch the surface… because if buyers have more money, sellers can simply raise their prices.” Explaining why a solution fails is as impressive as proposing one.
Realistic ending: “easier said than done” shows awareness that real problems are hard to solve.

Matching

Root cause, trigger, effect or solution?

Problem: many teachers in one region are leaving the profession. Match each sentence to its role in the explanation. There is one extra role.

Aa short-term knock-on effect
Ba solution aimed at the underlying problem
Cthe root cause
Da counter-argument
Ea possible long-term effect
Fthe trigger
Ga solution that only treats the symptoms

1.For years, teachers' pay has fallen behind other graduate jobs, while their workload has grown.
2.This year, a new inspection system doubled the paperwork almost overnight.
3.Within weeks, several schools had to cancel some classes.
4.Over time, fewer young people may see teaching as a realistic career.
5.Hire temporary staff to cover the empty posts.
6.Raise pay and cut unnecessary paperwork so that teaching is a job people want to stay in.

Speaking task

IELTS Part 3: causes and effects

No preparation, as in Part 3. Name the main cause, build a short chain, and describe at least one knock-on effect on society, not just on individuals. Aim for 45–60 seconds.

Topic: Health. Why do so many people say they don't get enough sleep nowadays? What effects can this have on society?

No preparation time · 1:00 speaking

Speaking task

TOEIC Express an opinion: choose a solution

You have 45 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. Choose ONE option, explain why it deals with the cause of the problem, give an example, and say briefly why another option is weaker.

Some companies are worried that their employees feel stressed at work. Which of the following do you think would be the most effective way for a company to reduce stress among its employees?

offering more flexible working hours
hiring additional staff
providing training in time management

Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

45 s preparation · 1:00 speaking

Save words to review them later with flashcards.

root cause
the deepest, most basic reason for a problem
“Poor pay is the root cause of the staff shortage.”
trigger
an event that causes something to start happening
“The price rise was the trigger for the protests.”
stem from
to be caused by or develop from something
“Many of her worries stem from a lack of sleep.”
give rise to
to cause something to happen or exist
“The new law gave rise to a lot of confusion.”
a knock-on effect
an indirect result of something that has happened
“The strike had a knock-on effect on deliveries across the country.”
a vicious circle
a situation in which one problem causes another, which makes the first problem worse
“Stress causes poor sleep, which causes more stress: it's a vicious circle.”
fuelled by
made stronger or bigger by something
“The boom was fuelled by cheap credit.”
keep pace with
to increase or develop at the same speed as something else
“Salaries haven't kept pace with the cost of living.”
scratch the surface
to deal with only a small part of a problem or subject
“The new funding barely scratches the surface of the problem.”
go a long way towards
to help a lot to achieve something
“Better lighting would go a long way towards making the park safer.”
the catch is
used to introduce a hidden problem or disadvantage
“The flat is cheap. The catch is that it's two hours from the city.”
take a toll on
to have a bad effect on something over time
“Years of night shifts took a toll on his health.”

Key points

Build chains, not lists: cause → effect → knock-on effect (which in turn…).
Separate the root cause from the trigger, and short-term from long-term effects.
Watch the direction: X results in Y (cause first); Y results from or stems from X (effect first).
Propose a solution, say who would do it, and test it: That would go a long way towards… The catch is…
In TOEIC Express an opinion, choose one option and justify it; don't try to cover them all.

Check your answers in the practice exercises to record a score.

Up next · Speaking C1 Advanced

Examples, anecdotes and analogies

Go to lesson

Warm-up

In this lesson you will

Before you start

Beyond “one reason is…”

Get the direction right

How a strong speaker does it

Root cause, trigger, effect or solution?

Precise links and realistic solutions

IELTS Part 3: causes and effects

TOEIC Express an opinion: choose a solution

Key points

Warm-up

In this lesson you will

Before you start

Beyond “one reason is…”

Get the direction right

How a strong speaker does it

Root cause, trigger, effect or solution?

Precise links and realistic solutions

IELTS Part 3: causes and effects

TOEIC Express an opinion: choose a solution

Key points