Final answer:
Four-year-old Ellie is likely to view stealing an apple as more negative than eating ice cream with fingers due to developing theory-of-mind, which helps her understand social norms and acceptable behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Four-year-old Ellie is most likely to view a child stealing an apple as a more negative act than a child eating ice cream with her fingers. Around this age, children are developing a theory-of-mind (TOM), which allows them to understand that people have different thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. They start to recognize societal norms and what behaviors may be considered acceptable or not. While eating with fingers might be seen as improper, it is generally not as frowned upon as stealing, which is viewed as a clear violation of social rules.