4th-Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets | Games4esl - Free Printable

Let's solve "The Mystery of the Missing Cookies" step by step.

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Passage Summary:

- 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 any cookies until after dinner.
- She went to the garden to pick vegetables.
- When she returned, the plate of cookies was empty.
- The children were in the living room, with crumbs around their mouths.
- Each child gave an alibi:
- Ben: He was reading a book.
- Emily: She was playing with her dolls.
- Sam: He was drawing a picture.

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Key Clue:

> *"The children were playing in the living room, crumbs around their mouths."*

This is crucial. Even though they claimed to be doing different activities, they all had crumbs around their mouths, which suggests that all three had eaten the cookies.

But the question is: Who ate the cookies?

Let’s analyze each child’s claim:

1. Ben said he was reading a book.
- Reading a book is a quiet activity. It doesn’t require hands or much movement.
- But if he was reading, why would he have crumbs around his mouth?
- Could he have eaten while reading? Possibly.

2. Emily said she was playing with her dolls.
- Playing with dolls usually involves using hands.
- If she was playing, she might have been able to sneak a cookie.
- But again, crumbs suggest she ate something.

3. Sam said he was drawing a picture.
- Drawing requires holding a pencil or crayon.
- Here’s the key point: You can't draw and eat cookies at the same time unless you’re using one hand for drawing and one for eating.
- But if he was drawing, he’d need both hands free or at least one hand steady.
- However, crumbs around his mouth suggest he did eat.

Wait — let’s look deeper.

But here’s the real clue hidden in the story:

> *"She placed them on the kitchen counter to cool..."*

And then:

> *"When she came back, she was surprised to find the plate of cookies empty."*

So, the cookies were on the kitchen counter, but the kids were in the living room.

Now, think about this:
If the cookies were on the kitchen counter, how could they have been eaten in the living room?

Unless someone brought them into the living room.

But the children were all in the living room, and all had crumbs.

But the biggest clue is actually what they were doing.

Let’s re-examine:

- Ben: reading a book → possible to eat while reading
- Emily: playing with dolls → possible to eat while playing
- Sam: drawing a picture → this is the tricky one

Drawing a picture requires holding a pencil. If Sam was drawing, he would have needed to use his hands. That makes it harder to eat cookies without dropping the pencil or getting crumbs on the paper.

But wait — could he have drawn with one hand and eaten with the other? Yes, possibly.

But there's a better clue in the timing.

Mrs. Baker left to pick vegetables. She didn't say when she returned. But the children were already in the living room, with crumbs.

So the cookies must have been eaten before she returned.

But here’s the critical detail:

> *"The children were playing in the living room, crumbs around their mouths."*

They weren’t in the kitchen. So the cookies were moved from the kitchen to the living room.

That means someone had to go to the kitchen, take the cookies, bring them to the living room, and eat them.

But none of the children mentioned going to the kitchen.

Now, consider Sam’s alibi:

> "I was drawing a picture."

But drawing a picture takes time. And if he was drawing, he probably wouldn’t have left the room to get cookies.

But what if he was lying?

Wait — here’s a better idea.

Think about who could have eaten the cookies without being noticed.

But here’s the real mystery: All three had crumbs, so all three likely ate cookies.

But the riddle is asking: Who do you think ate the cookies?

Let’s look at the logic of the alibis.

Could all three be lying?

Possibly.

But let’s see who has the most suspicious alibi.

Wait — Sam said he was drawing a picture.

But drawing a picture is an activity that requires focus and use of hands.

However, if Sam was drawing, he couldn’t have easily eaten cookies without leaving evidence.

But the crumbs are there.

Now, here’s the key insight:

> Ben said he was too busy reading a book.

That implies he was engaged in a quiet, solitary activity — perfect for sneaking cookies.

But Emily said she was playing with her dolls — also a hands-on activity.

But Sam said he was drawing.

Wait — what if Sam was lying?

No — we don’t know.

But here’s a clever twist:

> "The children shrugged their shoulders."

They didn’t admit anything.

But then Ben says: “I was too busy reading a book.”

That’s a lie. Because if he was reading, he wouldn’t have been busy — reading is easy.

But more importantly: He says he was too busy — implying he didn’t have time to eat cookies.

But if he was reading, he could have eaten while reading.

But the real clue is in Sam’s statement.

Wait — let’s look at Sam’s alibi: “I was drawing a picture.”

But drawing a picture is not something you can do while eating cookies without getting crumbs on your work.

But crumbs are around his mouth, so he did eat.

But perhaps Sam was the only one who didn’t go to the kitchen?

No — all three were in the living room.

But here’s the solution:

> Ben said he was too busy reading a book.

But reading a book doesn’t require both hands. You can read with one hand and eat with the other.

But Sam said he was drawing — and drawing requires holding a pencil.

But if Sam was drawing, he couldn’t have eaten without putting down the pencil.

So, if Sam had crumbs, but was drawing, that’s impossible — unless he stopped drawing.

But Ben said he was too busy reading — but reading isn’t really “busy” — it’s passive.

So Ben might be lying — because if he was reading, he had time to eat.

But the real answer lies in Sam’s alibi.

Wait — no.

Actually, the correct answer is:

> Sam ate the cookies.

Why?

Because Sam said he was drawing a picture — but drawing a picture requires using your hands.

But if he was drawing, he wouldn’t have been able to eat cookies without putting down the pencil.

But crumbs are around his mouth — so he must have eaten.

But how?

Ah — he was drawing — so he used one hand to draw, and the other to eat.

Possible.

But here’s a better idea.

Let’s think about who would have the most reason to lie.

But the real solution is simpler.

Look at Ben’s statement:

> "I was too busy reading a book."

But reading a book is not a busy activity — it’s relaxing.

So he’s lying — he wasn’t busy.

But Emily said she was playing with her dolls — that’s plausible.

Sam said he was drawing — also plausible.

But Ben claims he was “too busy” — but reading isn’t busy.

So he’s exaggerating.

But the crucial clue is in the last sentence:

> *"The children were playing in the living room, crumbs around their mouths."*

And then each gives an alibi.

But Ben said he was reading — but reading is not a play activity.

The others said they were playing — Emily with dolls, Sam drawing.

But Ben said he was reading — which is not playing.

But the passage says: *"The children were playing in the living room..."*

So all three were playing.

Therefore, Ben cannot be reading — because reading is not playing.

So Ben is lying.

He wasn’t reading — he was eating cookies.

Therefore, Ben ate the cookies.

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✔ Answer: Ben ate the cookies.

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🔍 Explanation:

- The passage states: *"The children were playing in the living room..."*
- Emily said she was playing with dolls — that’s playing.
- Sam said he was drawing — that’s a creative play activity.
- But Ben said he was reading a book — reading is not playing.
- Therefore, Ben’s alibi contradicts the fact that all children were playing.
- So Ben must be lying — he wasn’t reading; he was eating cookies.
- Also, he said he was “too busy reading,” which implies he didn’t have time to eat — but reading isn’t a busy task.
- Hence, Ben is the one who ate the cookies.

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🎯 Final Answer:

Ben ate the cookies.