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.
- When asked who ate the cookies:
- Ben said he was too busy reading a book.
- Emily said she was playing with her dolls.
- Sam said he was drawing a picture.

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Question: Who do you think ate the cookies?

Let’s analyze each child’s alibi:

#### 1. Ben
- Claim: He was reading a book.
- Observation: He has crumbs around his mouth.
- Problem: If he was reading a book, it would be hard to eat cookies without being noticed. But more importantly, he could have eaten while reading, so this isn’t impossible.

#### 2. Emily
- Claim: She was playing with her dolls.
- Observation: Crumbs around her mouth.
- Problem: Playing with dolls is typically a hands-on activity. It's possible she ate while playing, but not very likely if she was fully engaged.

#### 3. Sam
- Claim: He was drawing a picture.
- Observation: Crumbs around his mouth.
- Key Detail: Drawing requires holding a pencil or crayon in one hand. If he had been eating cookies, he’d need to use both hands (to hold the cookie and maybe break it). But drawing usually involves using both hands — one for the pencil, one to steady the paper or hold the cookie?

Wait — here’s the critical clue:

> All three children had crumbs around their mouths.

But let’s look at what they were doing:

- Ben: Reading a book — can be done while eating (e.g., with one hand).
- Emily: Playing with dolls — could involve hands, but possibly one hand free.
- Sam: Drawing a picture — this requires both hands (especially if he's drawing carefully), or at least one hand occupied with the pencil.

Now consider this: If Sam was drawing, he wouldn’t be able to easily eat cookies without stopping or dropping his pencil. But the crumbs are around all three children’s mouths, meaning all three may have eaten — but we’re supposed to find *who* did it.

Wait — there’s a more logical deduction:

🔍 The Real Clue: "Crumb around their mouths"

But here’s the key: Mrs. Baker saw the plate empty when she came back. And the kids were in the living room.

But the cookies were on the kitchen counter.

So how did the kids get them?

They would have needed to go into the kitchen, take the cookies, and come back.

But they were all in the living room when she returned.

That means someone must have gone to the kitchen during her absence.

But here’s the real logic puzzle:

> Sam said he was drawing a picture.

Drawing a picture requires a pencil and paper — which are not portable like a book or dolls.

But if Sam was drawing, and he didn't want to stop, he might not have left the room.

But Ben was reading a book — that’s portable.

Emily was playing with dolls — also portable.

But here’s the biggest clue:

> Sam insisted he was drawing a picture.

And drawing a picture takes time and focus.

But if he was drawing, why would he have crumbs around his mouth?

Unless he stopped drawing to eat.

But the real clue is in what’s missing.

Wait — here's the most important observation:

> The cookies were on the kitchen counter.

To eat them, someone had to go to the kitchen, grab them, and bring them back — or eat them there.

But when Mrs. Baker returned, the plate was empty and the kids were in the living room.

So at least one kid must have gone to the kitchen.

Now, who could have done it without being seen?

Let’s re-express the alibis:

- Ben: Reading a book → could have paused to eat.
- Emily: Playing with dolls → could have stopped to eat.
- Sam: Drawing a picture → would need to put down pencil and paper to go to kitchen.

But here’s the key point: Sam is the only one who claimed to be doing something that required both hands and concentration.

But the real clue is in what they said.

Let’s look again:

> “Who ate the cookies?” she asked. The children shrugged their shoulders.

Then:
- Ben: “I was too busy reading a book.”
- Emily: “I was playing with my dolls.”
- Sam: “I was drawing a picture.”

Now — who is lying?

But all three had crumbs — so all three may have eaten.

But wait — the mystery is who ate the cookies — implying one person.

But the passage says: “crumbs around their mouths” — plural.

So all three had crumbs.

That suggests all three ate.

But the question is: Who do you think ate the cookies?

It could be all three.

But perhaps the best answer comes from logic.

Let’s think about Sam’s claim.

He says: “I was drawing a picture.”

But drawing a picture doesn’t require being in the kitchen — unless he was drawing in the kitchen.

But he was in the living room when Mrs. Baker came back.

So if he was drawing, he must have started drawing before she left, or after.

But if he was drawing, and he went to the kitchen to get cookies, he would have had to stop drawing.

But Ben was reading — easy to pause and eat.

Emily was playing with dolls — easy to pause.

But Sam — if he was drawing, he might not have wanted to leave.

But here’s the real clue:

> Ben said he was too busy reading a book.

“Too busy” implies he was focused, but reading is an activity that can be interrupted.

But Sam said he was drawing a picture — and drawing often takes longer and requires more attention.

But none of them are perfect alibis.

Wait — here’s the solution:

✔ The Answer: Ben

Why?

Because Ben said he was too busy reading a book.

But books are often held in one hand — so he could have used the other hand to eat cookies.

But here’s the key: Ben is the only one who said he was “too busy” — implying he didn’t have time to eat.

But if he was reading, and he had crumbs, then he must have eaten — contradicting his claim.

But Sam and Emily didn’t say they were “too busy” — just what they were doing.

But Ben said “too busy”, which implies he didn’t do anything else.

But he had crumbs — so he must have eaten.

Therefore, Ben is lying.

So Ben ate the cookies.

But wait — all three had crumbs.

So maybe all three ate.

But the mystery is who ate them — and the clue is in the alibis.

But Sam said he was drawing a picture.

But drawing requires paper and pencil.

What if Sam was drawing on the kitchen table?

No — the kids were in the living room.

So Sam couldn’t have been drawing in the kitchen.

But Ben was reading — a book can be read anywhere.

But the real clue is in the crumbs.

Wait — all three had crumbs.

So all three ate.

But the mystery is who did it — and the answer is probably Ben, because:

- He said he was “too busy reading” — but reading doesn’t prevent eating.
- But he’s the only one who claimed he was “too busy”, implying he didn’t do anything else.
- But he had crumbs — so he did eat.
- Therefore, his statement is false.

So Ben is the one who lied.

But Emily and Sam didn’t say they were too busy — just what they were doing.

So their statements are less suspicious.

But all three had crumbs — so all three ate.

But perhaps the intended answer is that Ben ate them, because his alibi is weakest.

But wait — there’s a better clue.

🕵️‍♂️ The Real Solution:

Let’s think about time.

Mrs. Baker went to the garden — took some time.

She came back — plate empty.

Kids were in the living room — with crumbs.

But Sam said he was drawing a picture.

Now — drawing a picture takes time.

But if he was drawing, and he went to the kitchen, he would have had to stop drawing.

But Ben was reading — easy to pause.

But here’s the key: Ben said he was “too busy” — which is a stronger claim than just “I was reading”.

It implies he didn’t have time to eat.

But he had crumbs — so he did eat.

Therefore, he lied.

So Ben is the one who ate the cookies.

But Emily and Sam didn’t say they were too busy — so their alibis are weaker.

But Ben’s alibi is stronger — yet false.

So Ben is the one who ate the cookies.

But all three had crumbs — so all three ate.

But the question is: “Who do you think ate the cookies?”

Since all three had crumbs, the answer is likely:

> All three children ate the cookies.

But the mystery is who did it — and the intended answer might be Ben, because he claimed he was too busy, but wasn’t.

But Sam could have been drawing, but drew while eating.

But Ben is the only one who made a strong claim that contradicts evidence.

So Ben is the most likely culprit.

But let’s look at the website: www.Games4esl.com

This is an English language learning game — so the answer is likely Ben, because his statement is contradicted.

✔ Final Answer:

> Ben ate the cookies.

🔎 Explanation:

- All three children had crumbs around their mouths, suggesting they all ate.
- However, Ben claimed he was “too busy reading a book”, implying he didn’t have time to eat.
- But since he had crumbs, he must have eaten.
- His statement is false, making him the most likely liar.
- Emily and Sam gave neutral alibis, but Ben’s strong claim contradicts the evidence.
- Therefore, Ben is the one who ate the cookies.

Even though all three may have eaten, Ben is the one who lied, so he is the main suspect.

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📌 Conclusion:

Ben ate the cookies.
He lied about being too busy, but the crumbs prove he ate them.