B2 WRITING - CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS

In a cause-effect essay question, you are asked to describe causes and effects of a given
problem.
A cause-effect essay can be divided into four paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Body paragraph 1 – causes
Paragraph 3: Body paragraph 2 – effects
Paragraph 4: Conclusion

Activity 1. Underline the controlling ideas and put the supporting sentences into the right
paragraphs.
Supporting sentences:
1. Traffic participants become more aggressive at certain time of day or in certain weather
conditions.
2. Transport infrastructure has not met the requirements of increasing urban population.
3. Congestion inflicts high economic costs.
4. Individuals prefer private vehicles to public transport.
5. Traffic jams lead to environmental problems.

Introduction:
Traffic congestion, a condition in transport that is characterised by slower speeds, longer trip
times, and increased vehicular queueing, has increased substantially in many cities. From my
perspective, this disturbance results from several factors and has adverse consequences on both
nature and society.

Body paragraph 1:
When it comes to reasons for traffic jams, several related factors can be anticipated.
1. Traffic participants become more aggressive at certain time of day or in certain weather
conditions.
2. Transport infrastructure has not met the requirements of increasing urban population.
4. Individuals prefer private vehicles to public transport.

Body paragraph 2:
Because of its frequent occurrence, traffic congestion has inevitable consequences.
3. Congestion inflicts high economic costs.
 5. Traffic jams lead to environmental problems.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, traffic congestion, which stems from such factors as transport infrastructure and
traffic participants’ behavior, may lead to different undesirable effects on the environment and
economy.

Activity 2. Read the body paragraphs, and fill the gaps with suitable discourse markers/
connectives
Therefore For example Economically Firstly
Secondly In other words Environmentally Finally
This Apart from that whereas which

When it comes to reasons for traffic jams, several related factors can be anticipated. (1) ___Firstly_____,
transport infrastructure has not met the requirements of increasing urban population. (2) ___Apart from
that_______, the road system in many cities remains unchanged for many years in terms of road width
and the number of roads within cities, (3) ___whereas______ the number of people rushing to cities for
different purposes increases daily and yearly. (4) ___Secondly _______, individuals prefer private
vehicles to public transport as they stand out for the convenience of time-saving and flexibility. (5) ___In
other words______, there are numerous means of transportation travelling on streets, (6)
___which_______ greatly contributes to traffic congestion. (7) ____Finally______, at certain time of day
or in certain weather conditions, traffic participants’ behavior also leads to traffic congestion as they
become more aggressive. (8) ____Therefore _____, they tend to lose patience during rush hours and try
to reach the destination as quickly as possible and, as a result, they make the situation even worse.
Because of its frequent occurrence, traffic congestion has inevitable consequences. (9)
___Environmentally ______, the stopping and starting in traffic jams burns fuel at a higher rate than the
smooth rate of travel on the open highway. (10) ___This ______ increase in fuel consumption contributes
to the amount of emissions released by vehicles, which creates air pollution and is related to global
warming. (11) __Economically_____, congestion inflicts high costs as more time is wasted and more fuel
is used when traffic comes to a standstill. (12) __For example________, medical expenses may incur as a
result of air-pollution related diseases.

Activity 3. Read the introduction and put the supporting sentences into the right paragraphs.
Two of the supporting sentences cannot be used.

Supporting sentences
1. Cars are a symbol of personal wealth.
2. Governments should encourage people to use public transport.
3. Cars causes air pollution.
 4. Cars offer a degree of flexibility and safety that no other vehicle can provide.
5. Cars are responsible for traffic congestion in big cities.
6. Cars should be modified to be more environmentally friendly.
Introduction
Cars are used throughout the world and has become the most popular mode of transport in many
countries. However, the popularity of automobiles, which results from several factors, is believed
to have negative effects on the environment and society.

Body paragraph 1:
1. Cars are a symbol of personal wealth.
4. Cars offer a degree of flexibility and safety that no other vehicle can provide.

Body paragraph 2:
3. Cars causes air pollution.
5. Cars are responsible for traffic congestion in big cities.

Activity 4. Write the body paragraphs based on the information provided in Activity 3
The widespread use of cars across the globe has undeniably revolutionized transportation, offering
convenience and accessibility to millions of people. This popularity can be attributed to various
factors, including the flexibility and autonomy cars provide, allowing individuals to travel at their
own pace and convenience. Additionally, the development of road infrastructure has further
facilitated the dominance of automobiles as the preferred mode of transport in many countries.
However, this widespread reliance on automobiles comes with significant environmental and social
consequences. One of the most pressing concerns is the detrimental impact on the environment,
primarily through air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The combustion of fossil fuels in cars
releases pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides contributing to climate change and
exacerbating air quality issues. Additionally, the dominance of cars in urban areas has resulted in
traffic congestion, noise pollution, and road accidents, undermining the quality of life for residents
and posing significant challenges for urban planning and development.