Lesson 28: Talking About Change (Cause & Effect)
explain how and why things have changed using clear cause-and-effect language.
Why this matters
"How has X changed?" and "Why has X changed?" are everywhere in Part 3. Linking causes to effects clearly ("this has led to…", "as a result…") is what turns a vague answer into a coherent, band-7 one.
The Tip/Trick
Name the change, then trace cause → effect. Don't just say "things are different"; explain what caused it and what it led to.
- Before: "Now is different. People use phone more. Life change a lot."
- After: "The biggest shift is how connected we are — largely due to smartphones — and that's led to people working far longer hours."
Grammar Focus — Cause & effect (leads to / results in / due to)
Rule: leads to / results in / brings about + noun phrase (effect); due to / because of / owing to + cause; as a result / consequently link sentences. Reference: the "Cause & effect (leads to / results in / due to)" section.
- "Cheaper travel has led to a boom in tourism."
- "Due to social media, news spreads instantly."
- "Working from home results in less commuting; as a result, cities are quieter."
Vocabulary Cluster — Past vs present life (change)
Add to under "Past vs present life (change)".
- a dramatic shift — big change — "There's been a dramatic shift in lifestyles."
- gone are the days when — that no longer happens — "Gone are the days when families ate together."
- a double-edged sword — has good and bad sides — "Technology is a double-edged sword."
- to take its toll on — damage gradually — "Modern life takes its toll on our health."
- for better or worse — whether good or bad — "For better or worse, life is faster now."
- a thing of the past — no longer exists — "Letter-writing is a thing of the past."
- to keep pace with — change as fast as — "We struggle to keep pace with technology."
- a generational gap — difference between ages — "There's a real generational gap."
Drill these as flashcards — flip, then grade yourself.
Answer Outline
- Name the change: "The most striking change is ____."
- Cause: "This is largely due to ____."
- Effect: "As a result, ____."
- Evaluation: "Whether that's a good thing is debatable, but ____."
Model Answers: 5.0 vs 7.0
Question: How has family life changed compared to the past?
Band 5.0: "Before, family stay together more. Now people busy. They use phone and don't talk. It is not good change."
Band 7.0: "I think the most striking change is that families spend far less time together than they used to. This is largely due to longer working hours and the pull of smartphones. As a result, gone are the days when everyone sat down for dinner — meals are often rushed or eaten separately. Whether that's a bad thing is debatable, but I'd argue it has taken its toll on close relationships."
What changed:
- Cause/effect chain: "due to… As a result…".
- Idioms: "gone are the days when", "taken its toll on".
- Past habit contrast: "than they used to".
- Evaluation adds depth.
- No connective between cause and effect → use "due to / as a result".
- Tense mixing: "Before, family stay" → "families used to stay".
- "more busy" → "busier".
Your Turn (Record)
Task: Answer 3 questions with a clear cause→effect chain each: (1) How have people's working lives changed? (2) Why do people move to cities more than before? (3) Has technology improved or worsened daily life? ⏱ ~4 min.
Your turn — record & get scored
Part 3- How have people's working lives changed?
- Why do people move to cities more than before?
- Has technology improved or worsened daily life?
Self-Check + Spaced Review
Done when:
- I used cause/effect linkers in each answer.
- I used "used to" for past states.
- I used ≥3 change collocations/idioms.
Spaced review:
- From Lesson 27: add a whereas contrast (past vs present).
- From Lesson 26: end with a clear evaluative opinion.