The transition word that signals cause-and-effect in the given options is "as a result".
The transition word that signals cause-and-effect is "as a result". To determine which of the given options is the correct answer, you can look for transition words that often indicate cause-and-effect relationships. These words typically show a cause followed by an effect or a result. In this case, the transition word "as a result" fits this pattern as it introduces the effect that occurs as a consequence of a cause. Therefore, "as a result" is the correct answer.