Asking your children to explain their inappropriate behavior is counterproductive and only calls more attention to the behavior you are trying to get rid of in the first place! 

Additionally, your usually do not really want an answer. What you really want is
compliance. And providing an answer is not the same as complying with an expectation. In fact, asking your children to answer for their behavior often results in a smart-mouth answer that only annoys you more!

So questioning them becomes terribly counterproductive. It usually ends with you being upset, while your children remain noncompliant. In the meantime, they have received a lot of attention for not being compliant, and aren't terribly upset about being out of compliance. It is YOU who ends up having a fit!

1. Do not carry on with a bunch of questions that only make matters worse. 
2. State your expectations. 
3. Clarify consequences.
4. Let the consequences do the talking for you.
5. ONLY ask questions if you need information for problem solving.

Put this note on your bathroom mirror, inside your kitchen cupboard, and on the dash of your car to remind you:

"If what you are about to do or say does not have a high probability of improving things, don’t say it and don’t do it!"