Final answer:
b. cause and effect.
The paragraph exhibits a 'list of items' organizational pattern paired with 'cause and effect,' as it explains several reasons (causes) for adults returning to education and the resulting outcomes (effects) such as better job performance, raises, promotions, or personal growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organizational patterns described in the paragraph indicate a list of reasons why middle-aged adults return to education and can be primarily associated with cause and effect. This pattern is characterized by illustrating the cause, which is the motivation to return to school, and the subsequent effects, such as job improvement, higher wages, promotions, or personal interest in learning. The paragraph provides several instances of this pattern by explaining how job skills improvement (cause) can lead to better job performance (effect), or how seeking additional education (cause) might result in a raise or promotion (effect). Additionally, the desire to engage with new subjects for personal growth (cause) leads to a more productive and interesting life (effect).