Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Foundations of Reading Practice Exam

In which organizational structure would you find "if-then" statements?

1. Descriptive

2. Compare and contrast

3. Cause and effect

4. Problem and solution

The correct answer is: Cause and effect

The organizational structure that includes "if-then" statements is based on the cause and effect relationship. This structure clearly illustrates how one event or condition (the cause) directly leads to another event or condition (the effect). When using "if-then" statements, it sets up a conditional scenario that highlights this cause-and-effect dynamic, making it easier for the reader to understand the relationship between different elements. In context, consider a statement such as "If it rains, then the ground will be wet." Here, the cause is "it rains," and the effect is "the ground will be wet." This type of structure is fundamental in both logical reasoning and scientific discussions, as it helps establish connections between events that influence one another. Other organizational structures do serve distinct purposes, such as descriptive structures providing detailed information about a topic without implying causation, compare and contrast structures focusing on the similarities and differences between two or more subjects, and problem and solution structures identifying an issue and proposing remedies. However, they do not inherently incorporate the cause-and-effect relationships that are characteristic of "if-then" statements.