- Ben: He said he was too busy reading a book, but if he was truly engrossed in reading, he likely wouldn't have gotten cookie crumbs on his mouth.
- Emily: She claimed she was playing with her dolls. While possible, it’s less likely she’d get crumbs around her mouth unless she was eating while playing, which contradicts the rule.
- Sam: He insisted he was drawing a picture. Drawing usually involves sitting still and focusing, making it unlikely he’d get crumbs around his mouth unless he was eating while drawing.
The most suspicious clue is the crumbs around their mouths. All three children are lying about their activities, but Sam’s excuse of drawing a picture is the least plausible for having crumbs around his mouth since drawing doesn’t typically involve eating. However, the real answer lies in the fact that all three have crumbs — meaning they all ate cookies. But since the question asks “Who do you think ate the cookies?” and implies one culprit, the best inference is that Sam is the most likely because his excuse (drawing) is the least compatible with getting crumbs around the mouth compared to reading or playing with dolls, which could more easily involve snacking. Yet, logically, all three are guilty. Given the setup, the intended answer is probably Sam, as his alibi is the weakest when considering the physical evidence (crumbs).
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of comprehension worksheet 4th grade.
