Question

There's a positive correlation between the amount of fertilizer a homeowner uses

and the height of the plants in her garden.
Which statement is true?
The correlation is most likely a causation.
The correlation is most likely a coincidence.
The correlation is most likely due to a lurking variable.

Answer 1

The correlation is most likely a causation

Explanation:

Causation

A change in one variable causes a change in another variable

Coincidence

The two variables are not related at all, but correlate by chance.

Lurking variable

A variable that is not measured in the study (i.e. it's a third variable that is neither the explanatory nor the response variable)

As fertilizer directly affects plant growth, then the correlation is most likely a causation