Problem Analysis:
The story describes a scenario where Mrs. Baker baked chocolate chip cookies and placed them on the kitchen counter to cool. She warned her three children—Ben, Emily, and Sam—not to eat the cookies until after dinner. However, when she returned from the garden, the plate of cookies was empty. Each child provided an alibi for their whereabouts:
1.
Ben: Claimed he was busy reading a book.
2.
Emily: Said she was playing with her dolls.
3.
Sam: Insisted he was drawing a picture.
The task is to determine who ate the cookies based on the given information.
---
Solution Approach:
To solve this mystery, let's analyze the clues systematically:
#### 1.
The Setting and Context:
- The cookies were placed on the kitchen counter.
- Mrs. Baker warned the children not to eat the cookies until after dinner.
- When she returned, the cookies were gone, and crumbs were found around the children's mouths.
#### 2.
Children's Alibis:
-
Ben: Reading a book in the living room.
-
Emily: Playing with her dolls in the living room.
-
Sam: Drawing a picture in the living room.
#### 3.
Key Observations:
- All three children were in the living room when Mrs. Baker returned.
- Crumbs were found around the children's mouths, indicating that someone had eaten the cookies.
- The children's alibis suggest they were engaged in activities that could have allowed them to sneak away briefly to eat the cookies.
#### 4.
Logical Reasoning:
- Since all three children were in the living room, it is possible that one of them took advantage of a moment when Mrs. Baker was not watching to grab the cookies.
- The presence of crumbs around their mouths strongly suggests that at least one of them ate the cookies.
- Without additional evidence (e.g., witnesses or direct proof), we must rely on the most plausible scenario.
#### 5.
Conclusion:
- Given that all three children were in the living room and none of them directly admitted eating the cookies, it is reasonable to conclude that
one of them ate the cookies. However, without further evidence, we cannot definitively pinpoint which child it was.
---
Final Answer:
Based on the information provided,
we cannot definitively determine who ate the cookies, but it is clear that
one of the children—Ben, Emily, or Sam—ate them.
$$
\boxed{\text{One of the children ate the cookies.}}
$$
If additional evidence or details were provided, a more specific conclusion could be reached.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of free grade 4 reading comprehension worksheet.
