Which term describes 'the result produced by a cause'?

• A. Affect
• B. Effect
• C. Result
• D. Consequence

Answer: (B)

In cause-and-effect relationships, the result produced by a cause is called the effect. This noun names what happens as a direct outcome of something that happened first. It’s the precise term used to describe the outcome of an action or event. For example, the effect of a new policy might be changes in prices or employment, depending on the situation.

Affect is typically a verb meaning to influence, and when used as a noun it’s not the common label for an outcome. Result is a general word for an outcome, but effect is the specific term that links a cause to its immediate consequence. Consequence refers to an outcome as well, often with a sense of significance or moral weight, but the standard label for the direct outcome of a cause is effect.