The three friends drove to a park that had batting cages and pitching machines that tossed the balls to the batter automatically. Rameck took his place, ready to bat. "Keep your hands together," George shouted from the other side of the fence.

"Bend your knees a little," Sampson offered.

"I've watched the Yankees for years," Rameck said, ignoring both of them. "Baseball is easy!”

The machine pitched the first ball. Rameck swung with a powerful twist. He missed. The second ball erupted from the machine. Rameck swung again. He missed it by a mile. A third ball came. He swung and missed that one, too. The balls kept coming. Rameck kept swinging. And missing. George and Sampson, rolling with laughter, tried to offer suggestions at first to help him hit at least one of the balls. Finally, they gave up trying to help and just sat down on the ground, doubled over in laughter.

The machine finally ran out of balls, and Rameck stopped swinging. He looked at his friends, tossed the bat away, and had no choice but to laugh with them.

—We Beat the Street,
Sampson Davis et al

Using the drop-down menus, answer the questions about cause-and-effect relationships.

What causes Rameck to think he can easily succeed at baseball?

What is the effect of Rameck's failed attempts to hit the ball?