Everyday Mysteries
When Rosa came home, she saw her little brother’s shoes by the door, and the TV was on. A plate of cookies was missing.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Her brother is home watching TV and ate the cookies.
Sofia arrived late to class and looked tired. She had her pajama pants under her uniform.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: She got up late and dressed in a hurry.
There are small paw prints on the table and some fish bones missing.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The cat jumped on the table and ate the fish.
A store window is broken, and there are shoe prints near it.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Someone broke in through the window.
Miguel’s friend said he was sick, but Miguel saw him posting pictures at a party.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The friend lied about being sick.
The bathroom floor is wet, and the mirror is foggy, but no one is inside.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Someone just took a shower.
A student’s test paper had the same mistakes and answers as his friend’s paper.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: He copied from his friend.
The birdcage door is open, and feathers are on the floor.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The bird escaped from the cage.
The police find muddy footprints leading to a door but none going away.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The person who entered is still inside.
Elena’s phone has messages from a secret number, and she smiles every time she gets one.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Elena is secretly talking to someone she likes.
The living room window was open, and papers were scattered everywhere. A strong wind blew outside.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The wind came through the open window and blew the papers.
The classroom clock was on the floor, and only one student had a ball in his hands.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The student accidentally hit the clock with the ball.
In the park, the trash cans were turned over, and there were banana peels everywhere.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Animals (like monkeys or raccoons) searched the trash for food.
A wallet was stolen at a park. Only one person ran away when the victim shouted.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The person who ran away is probably the thief.
Luis said he didn’t eat the last piece of cake, but his plate had crumbs.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Luis ate the cake and lied about it.
Mr. Jiménez found the light on in the kitchen, a dirty cup on the counter, and the sugar open.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Someone made a drink (like coffee or tea) and forgot to clean up.
The teacher’s markers were missing, and Ana’s hands were full of colored ink.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Ana used or took the teacher’s markers.
A farm worker finds broken eggs near the henhouse and sees fox footprints.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: A fox entered and ate the eggs.
Detectives found two coffee cups on a table, but the suspect said he was alone.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The suspect was lying someone else was with him.
At lunch, three friends ordered pizza. Only one had sauce on his shirt.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: That friend was the one who dropped or ate the messy slice.
Laura saw muddy footprints leading to her room, and her new white carpet was dirty. Her dog was lying there wagging its tail.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The dog entered the room with dirty paws and made the mess.
The board was clean, but the eraser was full of red chalk, and the red chalk piece was shorter.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: Someone erased red writing from the board before class started.
The grass in the garden was flat, and pieces of fruit were half-eaten.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: An animal (like a deer or raccoon) came into the garden and ate the fruit.
The victim’s phone showed a message saying, “Meet me at 8,” and a neighbor saw the suspect arrive at 7:55.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The suspect met the victim before the crime happened.
After a group project, only one student looked nervous when the teacher asked who forgot to send the work.
Question: What can you deduce?
Deduction: The nervous student was the one who forgot to send the project.