Cause and Effect Relationships Practice Test

A commentary on scientific collaboration describes why large interdisciplinary projects sometimes produce fewer groundbreaking ideas than expected. The author argues that coordination demands can push teams toward lowest-common-denominator questions that all disciplines can agree on quickly. To avoid conflict, teams may favor methods and concepts that are already widely accepted, which can reduce the chance of exploring unconventional hypotheses. The author acknowledges that interdisciplinarity can also spark innovation by combining tools in novel ways, especially when projects include time for exploratory workshops and when leadership protects minority viewpoints. The author concludes that collaboration scale interacts with governance structures to shape creativity.

Which relationship best reflects the author’s causal account of reduced breakthroughs in some large projects?

A sociologist analyzes why some neighborhoods experience rising rents after a new public park is built. The author suggests the park can increase perceived neighborhood desirability, attracting higher-income residents and investors. As demand rises, landlords may raise rents, and small businesses may shift offerings toward the new clientele. The author cautions that the park is not the only influence: broader housing shortages and zoning constraints can intensify rent increases, while strong tenant protections can dampen them. The author also notes that some communities attempt to capture the park’s benefits without displacement by pairing investments with affordable housing measures.

The passage implies that rent increases following park construction occur primarily because: