Let’s go step by step to match each definition with the correct word from the list.
We have these words to choose from:
alibi, breakthrough, clue, deduce, evidence, hunch, motive, perpetrator, plot, red herring, setting, sleuth, suspect, victim, witness
Now let’s look at each definition one by one and find the best matching word:
1. “a discovery that helps solve the crime” → This is a big moment in solving a mystery — it’s called a
breakthrough.
2. “an object or statement that helps the detective solve the crime” → That’s a
clue. Clues are little hints that help put the puzzle together.
3. “a guess or a feeling that is not based on facts” → That’s a
hunch. Like when you just *feel* something is true, even if you can’t prove it yet.
4. “a fact or object that gives information that helps the detective solve the crime” → This sounds like
evidence. Evidence is solid proof — like fingerprints or a weapon.
5. “a reason a person does something” → In mysteries, this is often why someone committed the crime — that’s the
motive.
6. “a false clue that throws the investigator off track” → That’s a classic trick in mysteries — a
red herring. It distracts you from the real answer.
7. “a person who has a motive to have committed the crime” → That’s a
suspect. They’re under suspicion because they had a reason to do it.
8. “to use logical thinking to infer information” → That’s what detectives do — they
deduce things from clues.
9. “someone who is guilty of committing a crime” → That’s the
perpetrator. The actual criminal.
10. “a person who is harmed by a crime” → That’s the
victim. The one who suffered.
11. “the arrangement of events in a story” → That’s the
plot. How the story unfolds.
12. “someone who saw something related to the crime” → That’s a
witness. They saw it happen (or part of it).
13. “the time, place, surroundings and circumstances in which a story takes place” → That’s the
setting. Where and when the story happens.
14. “another name for detective” → A
sleuth is another word for detective — especially in old-fashioned mystery stories.
15. “an excuse given by an accused person to prove (s)he was somewhere else at the time the crime was committed” → That’s an
alibi. Like saying “I was at the movies!” when the crime happened.
Let’s double-check we used all 15 words and didn’t repeat any:
Used: breakthrough, clue, hunch, evidence, motive, red herring, suspect, deduce, perpetrator, victim, plot, witness, setting, sleuth, alibi → All 15! Perfect.
Final Answer:
1. breakthrough
2. clue
3. hunch
4. evidence
5. motive
6. red herring
7. suspect
8. deduce
9. perpetrator
10. victim
11. plot
12. witness
13. setting
14. sleuth
15. alibi
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of mystery pictures worksheet.
