Which set of words is likely to act as a signal for a cause-and-effect
relationship?
a) "despite this "
b) "following this "
c) "at the same time as this "
d) "as a consequence of this "

D-As a consequence of this event

Explanation:

This directly says, "hey this thing happened BECAUSE this thing took place"

it should be a. song dynasty’s civil service examination system created an administrative bureaucracy manned by the landed aristocracy.