Road to 5**﹕Cause and factor

【明報專訊】''Cause" and "factor" are similar but different concepts. This essay will discuss their differences and what to pay attention to when answering questions containing these terms.

■(1) Definitions

Cause﹕If there is absolute or even sole causation between A and B (i.e. A causes B), in logic we can say B is necessary for A, or A is sufficient for B. If this is the case, we can say that A is a cause.

Factor﹕If there is a complex background to the occurrence, so much so that it is impossible to explain the occurrence using one explanation, it might be caused by a number of factors.

Example 1：

A car accident happened and caused 10 deaths and 24 injuries.

Example 2:

Simon suffered from nasosinusitis (鼻竇炎). He was prescribed antibiotics and recovered a week later.

■(2) Answering a question

As it is much easier to test a candidate's ability to think from multiple angles if they are asked about the factors contributing to a phenomenon, most questions in the liberal studies examination ask you about ''factors''.

Sample question: Identify and explain some of the factors influencing a consumer's decision to or not to buy an electric car.

(see table)

Text: 張兆聰, who teaches liberal studies at Queen Elizabeth School Old Students' Association Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School

Translation: Terence Yip

[通通識 第589期]