On February 24, when Hall sensed that the Zimmermann telegram would tip the balance in favor of the U.S. joining the Allied forces, the British home secretary presented the telegram to President Wilson. One week later, news of the Zimmermann telegram was splashed across the front page of American newspapers. On April 6, 1917, the Congress of the United States declared war on Germany and its allies.

—The Dark Game,
Paul Janeczko

Which statement best evaluates the cause-and-effect text structure in this passage?

The text structure supports the idea that there were effects when Congress declared war.
The text structure helps to show the effects that resulted from Hall sharing the telegram.
The text structure helps to show the causes of Hall’s decision to share the telegram.
The text structure supports the idea that newspaper headlines had an effect on Congress.

The statement that best evaluates the cause-and-effect text structure in this passage is The text structure helps to show the effects that resulted from Hall sharing the telegram. In this excerpt, Paul Janeczko suggests that if Hall shared the telegram with President Wilson this would tip the balance in favor of the United States joining the Allied forces.

This text is a cause-and-effect text structure. It explains the reasons why something happened or explains the effects of an action. In the first part the author presents the reasons for what happens afertward, or the effects. In this case, the sharing of the telegram, the cause, provokes the effects, the United States joining the Allies to fight against Germany.