What is the overall message about reading and problem solving in the story?

• A. Reading distracts from action.
• B. Reading alone guarantees success.
• C. Reading and knowledge empower problem solving.
• D. Reading should be avoided in competitions.

Answer: (C)

Reading opens up clues and strategies that help you solve problems, and the story shows this clearly. The characters who take advantage of books—learning from stories, facts, and puzzles found in the library—are the ones who can decode codes, understand rules, and piece together what’s needed to move forward. The library becomes a toolkit: background knowledge, patterns, and hints you can test and apply to the challenges you face. So reading and what you know from it empower problem solving, rather than just adding busywork or guaranteeing success on its own.

Rushing through without using the information in the books won’t get you far, and simply reading would not guarantee victory without applying what you’ve learned. Reading isn’t avoided or irrelevant in the story—it's essential, cooperative, and applied.