Cause and Effect - Extra Practice (Unit 1.4)

Comprehension: Cause and Effect

The Printing Press

A cause is what makes something happen. The effect is what happens as a result of the cause. Let’s read each paragraph. Then read the cause that follows each paragraph and write a sentence that tells its effect.

Hundreds of years ago, all books were made by hand. If you wanted a book, it had to be copied by a person. The people

who did this were called scribes. Making a book by hand took a very long time. Few people could have books because they were very expensive.

Cause: Making books by hand took a long time.

Effect:                                                          .

Then a man named Johannes Gutenberg came up with a solution. He invented the printing press

in 1439. The press worked like this.Letters were carved into huge metal plates. Ink was rolled on top of the plates. When paper was pressed

onto the plates, the letters showed up on the paper.

Cause: Paper would be placed in the press.

Effect:                                                          .

As time passed, printing machines changed. They became easier and easier to use. Printing large quantities and books became common because of the printing press. But we wouldn’t have those machines and all these books if it weren’t for Gutenberg’s printing press.

Cause: Printing machines became easier to use.

Effect:                                                          .

 

20     Unit 1  •  Week 4