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The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom – Class 7 English Honeycomb book Lesson 4 -Detailed explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words. Also, the explanation is followed by a Summary of the lesson. All the exercises and Questions and Answers given at the back of the lesson have been covered. Take Free Online MCQs Test for Class 7 Click Here
The ashes that made trees bloom summary in hindi, the ashes that made trees bloom lesson explanation.
Class 7 English Honeycomb Book Poems Word Meanings
The ashes that made trees bloom class 7 introduction.
This story is about an old couple and their beloved pet dog. The couple were poor but hardworking and affectionate to everyone around them, including the neighbours who were troublesome and cruel. The dog who gets killed by the hands of the neighbors helps the old couple in unexpected and unimaginable ways.
In the old days of the daimios, there lived an old couple who had a pet dog named Muko. Having no child, they cared for Muko as a human child. Muko, in turn, loved them back like a being with a soul. One day, when the old man was feeding the white heron, the dog ran upto him and tried to take him to a particular spot in the garden. At first, the old man just thought the dog was playing with him but after a while, he followed to the spot. The dog began scratching the ground as if a bone or a fish were buried in the ground. The old man brought out his hoe, struck it on the spot and found gold. Hence, the old couple began rich. They enjoyed a lot and even shared their fortune with the poor people. There also lived a couple who were wicked and cruel. When they got to know the old couple’s fortune, they coaxed the dog into their house and offered him food. However, the dog knew how cruel and insensitive the couple were, and he neither ate nor moved. Then they dragged out in their garden while carrying a hoe and spade with them. As they reached the pine tree, the dog began to paw and scratch the ground. The greedy couple, thinking that a mighty treasure must be buried, started working immediately. However, they found a dead kitten. Losing their tempers, they beated the dog to death and threw his carcass in a hole and buried him. When the old man got to know the news of his pet’s death, he mourned for him. And went at night under night and paid his respects. That night, as he was sleeping, the spirit of the dog came in his deam and told the old man to cut down the pine and make a mortar and a mill from it. The old man did as he was told to do. He worked hard and finally made the mortar and the mill. As the New Year came nearer, he wished to use the mortar and the mill to make rice pastry. With the help of his wife, he pounded the rice. When the old woman took the mill and began to grind the bean, heavy gold coins started falling from it. Again, the old couple had become rich. Meanwhile, the wicked couple were spying on them. They wanted the mortar and the mill so they borrowed it from the old couple the next day. As soon the old man began to pound the rice and the old woman began to grind, the rice and beans turned into worms. The wicked man turned angry and destroyed the tools and used the broken pieces as firewood. Not only after that, the old man had another dream. The dog’s spirit came and told his owner to take the ashes of the burnt mortar and mill and sprinkle them on the withered trees to make them bloom. The old man woke up and went to the wicked couple’s house. He humbly asked for the ashes. The couple treated him with contempt but let him fill his basket with the ashes. When he returned home, he took his wife to his garden where their cherry tree was withered as it was winter. The old man sprinkled the ashes on the tree and saw that the tree was full of blooming cherry blossoms. Everyone got to know about this and everyone went to see this wonder. The wicked couple also got to know this story and gathered all the remaining ashes and kept it safe. Meanwhile, the kind old man heard that the daimos was to pass along the high road near the village. He took his basket and set off to see him. As the train approached, he climbed up into an old withered cherry tree that stood by the wayside. Even though according to the customs of that timeperiod he was supposed to lie down, he was standing. However, the guards didn’t object, seeing that he was an old man. As the daimio’s palanquin drew nearer, he sprinkled some of the ashes on the withered cherry blossom tree which made it bloom. The daimio was delighted to see this and stopped the van. Calling the old man to him, he thanked him and ordered presents of silk robes, sponge-cake, fans and other rewards to be given him. He even invited him to his castle. The old man went home happily to share this news with his wife. However, the wicked neighbour, who heard this story, took some of the magic ashes and went out on the highway. He climbed a cherry blossom tree and when the daimio was directly under the tree. The man threw a handful of ashes which didn’t do anything. Instead, they fell on the daimio and when the wind blew, the ashes flew into the daimio andhis wife’s eyes and noses. They sneezed and choked, which ruined the dignity and elegance of the procession. The man was brought down from the tree and beaten to death. Meanwhile, the kind old couple lived a prosperous life.
डेमियोस के पुराने दिनों में, एक बूढ़ा जोड़ा रहता था जिसके पास मुको नाम का एक पालतू कुत्ता था। कोई संतान न होने के कारण, उन्होंने मुको को एक मानव बच्चे के रूप में पाला। बदले में, मुको ने उन्हें एक आत्मा के साथ एक प्राणी की तरह वापस प्यार किया। एक दिन, जब बूढ़ा सफेद बगुले को खिला रहा था, तो कुत्ता उसके पास दौड़ा और उसे बगीचे में एक विशेष स्थान पर ले जाने की कोशिश की। पहले तो बूढ़े को लगा कि कुत्ता उसके साथ खेल रहा है, लेकिन थोड़ी देर बाद वह मौके पर चला गया। कुत्ता जमीन को खुजाने लगा जैसे कोई हड्डी या मछली जमीन में दबी हो। बूढ़े ने अपनी कुदाल निकाली, उसे वहीं मारा और सोना पाया। इसलिए, बूढ़ा जोड़ा अमीर होने लगा। उन्होंने बहुत आनंद लिया और यहां तक कि गरीब लोगों के साथ अपना भाग्य भी साझा किया। वहाँ एक जोड़ा भी रहता था जो दुष्ट और क्रूर था। जब उन्हें वृद्ध दंपति की किस्मत का पता चला, तो उन्होंने कुत्ते को अपने घर में ले जाकर भोजन कराया। हालांकि, कुत्ता जानता था कि युगल कितने क्रूर और असंवेदनशील थे, और उसने न तो खाया और न ही हिला । फिर वे अपने साथ कुदाल लेकर उसे अपने बगीचे में घसीट कर ले गए । जैसे ही वे चीड़ के पेड़ के पास पहुंचे, कुत्ते ने पंजा मारना और जमीन को खरोंचना शुरू कर दिया। लालची दंपति ने यह सोचकर कि एक शक्तिशाली खजाना दफन किया जाना चाहिए, तुरंत काम करना शुरू कर दिया। हालांकि, उन्हें एक मृत बिल्ली का बच्चा मिला। अपना आपा खोते हुए, उन्होंने कुत्ते को पीट-पीट कर मार डाला और उसके शव को एक छेद में फेंक दिया और उसे दफना दिया। जब बूढ़े को अपने पालतू जानवर की मौत की खबर मिली, तो उसने उसके लिए शोक मनाया। और रात में जाकर प्रणाम किया। उस रात, जब वह सो रहा था, तो उसके सपने में कुत्ते की आत्मा आई और उसने बूढ़े आदमी से कहा कि वह चीड़ को काटकर उसमें से एक मोर्टार और एक चक्की बना ले। बूढ़े ने वैसा ही किया जैसा उसे करने के लिए कहा गया था। उसने कड़ी मेहनत की और अंत में मोर्टार और चक्की बनाई। जैसे-जैसे नया साल नजदीक आया, वह चावल की पेस्ट्री बनाने के लिए मोर्टार और मिल का उपयोग करना चाहता था। उसने अपनी पत्नी की मदद से चावलों को पीस दिया। बुढ़िया जब चक्की लेकर बीन पीसने लगी तो उसमें से सोने के भारी सिक्के गिरने लगे। फिर से, बूढ़ा जोड़ा अमीर हो गया था। इस दौरान दुष्ट दंपत्ति उनकी जासूसी कर रहे थे। वे मोर्टार और मिल चाहते थे इसलिए उन्होंने अगले दिन पुराने जोड़े से उधार लिया। जैसे ही बूढ़े ने चावल को पीसना शुरू किया और बुढ़िया ने पीसना शुरू किया, चावल और फलियाँ कीड़े में बदल गईं। वह दुष्ट क्रोधित हो गया और उसने औजारों को नष्ट कर दिया और टूटे हुए टुकड़ों को जलाऊ लकड़ी के रूप में इस्तेमाल किया। इतना ही नहीं उसके बाद बूढ़े ने एक और सपना देखा। कुत्ते की आत्मा आई और उसने अपने मालिक से कहा कि जले हुए मोर्टार और चक्की की राख ले लो और उन्हें मुरझाए पेड़ों पर छिड़क दो ताकि वे खिल सकें। बूढ़ा उठा और दुष्ट दम्पति के घर चला गया। उसने विनम्रता से राख मांगी। दंपति ने उसके साथ अवमानना की, लेकिन उसे अपनी टोकरी को राख से भरने दिया। जब वह घर लौटा, तो वह अपनी पत्नी को अपने बगीचे में ले गया जहाँ उसका चेरी का पेड़ सर्दी के कारण सूख गया था। बूढ़े ने उस राख को पेड़ पर छिड़का और देखा कि पेड़ खिले हुए चेरी के फूलों से भरा हुआ था। इसके बारे में सभी को पता चल गया और सभी लोग इस अजूबे को देखने गए। दुष्ट दंपत्ति को भी इस कथा का पता चल गया और उन्होंने बची हुई सारी राख को इकट्ठा कर सुरक्षित रख लिया। इस बीच, दयालु बूढ़े ने सुना कि डेमो को गाँव के पास ऊँची सड़क के साथ से गुजरना है। वह अपनी टोकरी लेकर उससे मिलने चला गया। जैसे ही ट्रेन नजदीक आई, वह रास्ते के किनारे खड़े एक पुराने मुरझाए चेरी के पेड़ पर चढ़ गया। यद्यपि उस समय के रीति-रिवाजों के अनुसार उसे लेटना चाहिए था, वह खड़ा था। हालांकि, गार्ड ने यह देखकर कोई आपत्ति नहीं की कि वह बूढ़ा है। जैसे ही डेमियो की पालकी नजदीक आई, उसने कुछ राख को मुरझाए चेरी ब्लॉसम के पेड़ पर छिड़क दिया जिससे वह खिल गया। यह देखकर डेमियो खुश हो गया और उसने वैन रोक दी। बूढ़े आदमी को अपने पास बुलाकर, उसने उसे धन्यवाद दिया और रेशम के वस्त्र, स्पंज-केक, पंखे और अन्य पुरस्कार देने का आदेश दिया। उसने उसे अपने महल में भी आमंत्रित किया। बूढ़ा अपनी पत्नी के साथ यह खबर साझा करने के लिए खुशी-खुशी घर चला गया। हालाँकि, दुष्ट पड़ोसी, जिसने यह कहानी सुनी, जादू की कुछ राख ले गया और सड़क पर निकल गया। वह एक चेरी ब्लॉसम के पेड़ पर चढ़ गया और जब डेमियो सीधे पेड़ के नीचे था। उस आदमी ने मुट्ठी भर राख फेंक दी, जिससे कुछ नहीं हुआ। इसके बजाय, वे डेमियो पर गिरे और जब हवा चली, तो राख डेमियो और उसकी पत्नी की आंखों और नाक में उड़ गई। वे छींके मारने लगे और घुट गए, जिससे जुलूस की गरिमा और शान नष्ट हो गई । युवक को पेड़ से नीचे उतारा और पीट-पीटकर मार डाला। इस बीच, दयालु वृद्ध दंपति ने एक समृद्ध जीवन व्यतीत किया।
Passage – In the good old days of the daimios, there lived an old couple whose only pet was a little dog. Having no children, they loved it as though it were a baby. The old dame made it a cushion of blue crape, and at mealtime Muko—for that was its name—would sit on it as snug as any cat. The kind people fed the pet with tidbits of fish from their own chopsticks, and all the boiled rice it wanted. Thus treated, the dumb creature loved its protectors like a being with a soul. daimios: (in 19th century Japan) wealthy landowners dame: the woman of the household
Word Meaning:
snug : comfortable tidbits: small pieces a being with a soul : like a human child (showing emotion)
Explanation of the Above Passage – I n the days of 19th century Japan, there lived an old couple who had a pet dog. The old couple had no children. So, they loved their pet dog, Muko as though it were their baby. The old woman made a cushion of blue crape for the pet dog and it would sit on as snug as any cat at mealtimes. The old couple was kind and fed the pet pieces of fish and lots of rice from their own chopsticks. As the pet dog was showered with so much love and affection, it loved the protectors back like a human child.
Passage – The old man, being a rice farmer, went daily with hoe or spade into the fields, working hard from morning until O Tento Sama (as the sun is called) had gone down behind the hills. Every day the dog followed him to work, never once harming the white heron that walked in the footsteps of the old man to pick up the worms. For the old fellow was patient and kind to everything that had life, and often turned up a sod on purpose to give food to the birds.
turned up : dug up on sod : the surface of the ground, with the grass growing on it on purpose : intentionally
Explanation of the Above Passage – The old man was a hardworking rice farmer. He went daily into the fields with his tools like hoe and spade, working from morning till the time till the sun had gone down behind the hills i.e. when the sun had set completely. Every day the pet dog followed him to work. Muko would never harm the white heron that followed the old man to pick up the worms. The old man was a patient fellow and was kind to everything that had life. This part of his personality made him dig a sod on purpose to give food to the birds.
Passage – One day the dog came running to him, putting his paws against his legs and motioning with his head to some spot behind. The old man at first thought his pet was only playing and did not mind it. But the dog kept on whining and running to and fro for some minutes. Then the old man followed the dog a few yards to a place where the animal began a lively scratching. Thinking it was possibly a buried bone or bit of fish, the old man struck his hoe in the earth, when, lo! a pile of gold gleamed before him. motioning: pointing
Word Meaning: whining: making high-pitched voices lively: energetic gleamed: shone/ glittered
Explanation of the Above Passage – One day, the pet dog came to the old man. He put his paws against his legs and motioned with his head to some spot behind him, telling the old man to follow him. At first, the old man thought the dog was just playing him and, taking the dog’s gestures light-heartedly, he ignored the dog. But the dog wouldn’t stop whining and running to and fro. The old man then followed him to the spot the dog was motioning towards. The dog began a lively scratching on the spot. The old man thought that it was just a buried bone or a bit of fish and struck his hoe in the earth. That’s when he found a pile of gold gleaming before him.
Passage – Thus in an hour the old couple were made rich. The good souls bought a piece of land, made a feast for their friends, and gave plentifully to their poor neighbors. As for the dog, they petted him till they nearly smothered him with kindness. plentifully: very much smothered: suffocated
Explanation of the Above Passage – After an hour of finding the pile of gold, the old couple became rich. The couple bought a piece of land, made a feast for their friends and shared their fortune with their neighbours who happened to be poor. The dog was petted for his findings till he was nearly suffocated by the quantity of the kindness and love.
Passage – Now in the same village there lived a wicked old man and his wife, not a bit sensitive and kind, who had always kicked and scolded all dogs whenever any passed their house. Hearing of their neighbours’ good luck, they coaxed the dog into their garden and set before him bits of fish and other dainties, hoping he would find treasure for them. But the dog, being afraid of the cruel pair, would neither eat nor move.
Word Meaning: coaxed : persuaded; enticed dainties : tasty food
Explanation of the Above Passage – In the same village lived another couple who were wicked and cruel, totally opposite of what the old couple having the pet were. The wicked couple had always kicked and scolded all dogs whenever any passed their house. However, after hearing of their neighbours’ fortune, they acted friendly to Muko and coaxed the dog into their garden. They set before him bits of fish and other dainties, bribing him to find treasure for them. But the dog, having an advanced sense of smell, could sense that the old pair were cruel. Hence he became afraid of them and neither ate nor moved.
Passage – Then they dragged him out of doors, taking a spade and hoe with them. No sooner had the dog got near a pine tree growing in the garden than he began to paw and scratch the ground, as if a mighty treasure lay beneath. “Quick, wife, hand me the spade and hoe!” cried the greedy old fool, as he danced with joy.
Word Meaning: mighty : huge
Explanation of the Above Passage – After the dog refused to eat or move, the wicked couple dragged outside, taking a spade and hoe with them. As soon as the dog reached a pine tree growing in the garden, he began pawing and scratching the ground as if a mighty treasure ws lying beneath the ground. The greedy old fool, who thought that they had at last found gold, ordered his wife to hand him the tools as he danced with joy.
Passage – Then the covetous old fellow, with a spade, and the old crone, with a hoe, began to dig; but there was nothing but a dead kitten, the smell of which made them drop their tools and shut their noses. Furious at the dog, the old man kicked and beat him to death, and the old woman finished the work by nearly chopping off his head with the sharp hoe. They then flung him into the hole and heaped the earth over his carcass.
covetous: greedy crone : old woman (old man’s wife) flung : threw carcass : dead body
Explanation of the Above Passage – The greedy old man took the spade and the old crone a hoe. They began to dig. However, at the end of their digging, they found nothing but a dead kitten which smelled so bad that they dropped their tools and shut their noses. The old man, who had become furious at the dog, kicked and beat him to death. The old woman then finished the work by nearly chopping his head off with the sharp hoe. They threw him into the hole in which they had found the dead kitten and heaped the earth over his dead body.
Passage – The owner of the dog heard of the death of his pet and, mourning for him as if he had been his own child, went at night under the pine tree. He set up some bamboo tubes in the ground, such as are used before tombs, in which he put fresh flowers. Then he laid a cup of water and a tray of food on the grave and burned several costly sticks of incense. He mourned a great while over his pet, calling him many dear names, as if he were alive. mourning: the expression of sorrow for someone’s death
Explanation of the Above Passage – When the old man heard of his pet’s death, he went to see the hole under the pine tree at night. He set up some bamboo tubes in the ground like the ones that are used before tombs, and in that he put fresh flowers. Then he put a cup of water and a tray of food on the grave and burned several expensive incense sticks. He mourned for a while while calling him many dear names as if he were still alive.
Passage – That night the spirit of the dog appeared to him in a dream and said, “Cut down the pine tree over my grave, and make from it a mortar for your rice pastry and a mill for your bean sauce.” So the old man chopped down the tree and cut out of the middle of the trunk a section about two feet long. With great labour, partly by fire, partly by the chisel, he scraped out a hollow place as big as a small bowl. He then made a longhandled hammer of wood, such as is used for pounding rice. When New Year’s time drew near, he wished to make some rice pastry. When the rice was all boiled, granny put it into the mortar, the old man lifted his hammer to pound the mass into dough, and the blows fell heavy and fast till the pastry was all ready for baking. Suddenly the whole mass turned into a heap of gold coins. When the old woman took the hand-mill, and filling it with beans began to grind, the gold dropped like rain.
mortar: bowl pounding : crushing; grinding
Explanation of the Above Passage – That night, the old man saw a dream in which the spirit of the dog appeared. The dog instructed the old man to cut down the pine tree over his tree and make a mortar and a mill for rice pastry and bean sauce. The old man obeyed his pet dog and chopped down the tree. He cut out of the middle of the trunk a section about two feet long. After working really hard, using fire and chisel, he scraped out a hollow place as big as a small bowl. He then made longhandled hammer of wood which was the mill. When New Year came nearer, he wished to use the mortar and mill he made to make rice pastries. When the rice was all boiled, the old woman put it into the mortar. The old man lifted his hammer to pound it into dough. The blows fell heavy and fast till the pastry was all ready for baking. However, the mass had suddenly changed into a heap of gold coins. Even the beans in the hand-mill had turned into gold coins and when the old woman took the hand-mill, the gold coins dropped like rain.
Passage – Meanwhile the envious neighbour peeped in at the window when the boiled beans were being ground. “Goody me!” cried the old hag, as she saw each dripping of sauce turning into yellow gold, until in a few minutes the tub under the mill was full of a shining mass of gold.
envious: jealous
Explanation of the Above Passage – All of this was being seen by the wicked couple, who were jealous. The wicked old woman cried in excitement as she saw each drop of the bean sauce turning into yellow gold, until in a few minutes, the tub under the mill was full of shining mass of gold.
Passage – So the old couple were rich again. The next day the stingy and wicked neighbour came and borrowed the mortar and magic mill. They filled one with boiled rice and the other with beans. Then the old man began to pound and the woman to grind. But at the first blow and turn, the pastry and sauce turned into a foul mass of worms. Still more angry at this, they chopped the mill into pieces, to use as firewood. stingy: miserly
Explanation of the Above Passage – Again the old couple had become rich. The next day, the wicked old couple came and asked for the magic mortar and mill. Since the old couple were kind and generous, they didn’t object. So, when the old couple reached home, they filled one with boiled rice and the other with beans. The old man then began to pound and the woman to grind. However, the result was completely different. At the first blow and turn, the pastry and bean sauce transformed into a foul mass of worms. The couple became angry and chopped the tools into pieces. They decided to use the pieces as firewood.
Passage – Not long after that, the good old man dreamed again, and the spirit of the dog spoke to him, telling him how the wicked people had burned the mill made from the pine tree. “Take the ashes of the mill, sprinkle them on the withered trees, and they will bloom again,” said the dog-spirit.
Word Meaning: withered : bare and dry
Explanation of the Above Passage – Not long after the wicked couple had destroyed the tools that the old man saw the dog’s spirit in his dream. The spirit told him how cruelly the wicked couple had burned the tools made from the pine tree. The dog-spirit then instructed the old man to take the ashes of the mill and sprinkle them on the withered trees to make them bloom again.
Passage – The old man awoke and went at once to his wicked neighbour’s house, where he found the miserable old pair sitting at the edge of their square fireplace, in the middle of the floor, smoking and spinning. From time to time they warmed their hands and feet with the blaze from some bits of the mill, while behind them lay a pile of the broken pieces. spinning: becoming dizzy blaze: flame
Explanation of the Above Passage – After the dream got over, the old man awoke and at once, he went to the wicked couple’s house. There, he saw the wicked couple sitting at the edge of their fireplace which was a square in shape in the middle of the floor. They were smoking and becoming dizzy and from time to time they kept their hands and feet near the blazing fire made from some bits of the mill, and made themselves warm. Behind them lay a pile of the broken pieces which the couple were using to keep the fire blazing.
Passage – The good old man humbly asked for the ashes. Though the covetous couple turned up their noses at him and scolded him as if he were a thief, they let him fill his basket with the ashes. On coming home, the old man took his wife into the garden. It being winter, their favourite cherry tree was bare. He sprinkled a pinch of ashes on it, and, lo! it sprouted blossoms until it became a cloud of pink blooms which perfumed the air. The news of this filled the village, and everyone ran out to see the wonder.
humbly : politely turned up their noses : treated him with contempt bare : not covered wonder: things which cannot be explained why or how they happened
Explanation of the Above Passage – The old man politely asked for the ashes. The greedy couple treated him harshly and scolded him as if he were a thief. Nevertheless, they let him fill his basket with ashes as they had no idea that the ashes would have the power to make trees bloom.
On coming home, the old man brought his wife into the garden. In the garden, there was a cherry blossom tree which was withered due to the winter season. The cherry blossom happened to be the couple’s favourite tree. So, the old man decided to make that tree bloom. He took just a pinch of the ashes and sprinkled it on the tree. Instantly, the tree sprouted blossoms until it became so filled that it looked like a pink cloud which perfumed the air with a cherry blossom fragrance. The news of this phenomenon spread throughout the village. Everyone ran out to the old couple’s house to see the wonder.
Passage – The covetous couple also heard the story, and, gathering up the remaining ashes of the mill, kept them to make withered trees blossom.
The kind old man, hearing that his lord, the daimio, was to pass along the high road near the village, set out to see him, taking his basket of ashes. As the train approached, he climbed up into an old withered cherry tree that stood by the wayside.
train : procession wayside : edge of the road
Explanation of the Above Passage – The greedy old couple also heard the story. They gathered up the remaining ashes of the mill and kept it safe with them to make withered trees bloom. The old man heard that his lord who was the daimio, was going to pass along the high road near the village. He set out to see the lord, taking his basket of ashes with him. As the procession approached, the old man climbed up an old withered cherry tree that stood at the edge of the road.
Passage – Now, in the days of the daimios, it was the custom, when their lord passed by, for all the loyal people to shut up their high windows. They even pasted them fast with a slip of paper, so as not to commit the impertinence of looking down on his lordship. All the people along the road would fall upon their hands and knees and remain prostrate until the procession passed by.
Word Meaning: custom : prevailing tradition impertinence : rudeness, lack of manners prostrate : lying on the ground face downward
Explanation of the Above Passage – In this paragraph, we get to know that in the old days, it was the custom for all the loyal people to either shut their high windows or to remain prostrate if they were on the road until the train passed by. The people even pasted their windows with a slip of paper if somehow their windows wouldn’t get closed properly. This was done in order to have a good image in front of the daimio.
Passage – The train drew near. One tall, competent man marched ahead, crying out to the people by the way, “Get down on your knees! Get down on your knees!” And every one kneeled down while the procession was passing.
Suddenly the leader of the van caught sight of the aged man up in the tree. He was about to call out to him in an angry tone, but, seeing he was such an old fellow, he pretended not to notice him and passed him by. So, when the daimio’s palanquin drew near, the old man, taking a pinch of ashes from his basket, scattered it over the tree. In a moment it burst into blossom.
Word Meaning: competent : skilful palanquin : royal van/ cart
Explanation of the Above Passage – The procession was getting near. A tall and skilful man was marching ahead, who was ordering people to get down on their knees. Everyone obeyed. However, the old man, who was on the cherry blossom tree, was standing rather than being in a prostate position. The leader of the van caught sight of him. He was about to order him angrily when he saw that he was an old fellow and that it would be better to ignore him. As the van drew nearer, the old man took a pinch of the ashes from his basket and sprinkled on the tree. In a moment, the flowers bloomed.
Passage – The delighted daimio ordered the train to be stopped and got out to see the wonder. Calling the old man to him, he thanked him and ordered presents of silk robes, sponge-cake, fans and other rewards to be given him. He even invited him to his castle. So the old man went gleefully home to share his joy with his dear old wife.
Explanation of the Above Passage – The daimio was delighted to see a withered cherry blossom tree suddenly sprout beautiful cherry blossoms. He ordered the train to be stopped and got out to see the wonder. He called the old man and thanked him. He ordered presents of silk robes, sponge-cakes, fans and other luxurious things to be given to him. The daimio even invited him to his castle. The old man gleefully went home to share this good news with his dear old wife.
Passage – But when the greedy neighbour heard of it, he took some of the magic ashes and went out on the highway. There he waited until a daimio’s train came along and, instead of kneeling down like the crowd, he climbed a withered cherry tree. When the daimio himself was almost directly under him, he threw a handful of ashes over the tree, which did not change a particle. The wind blew the fine dust in the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife. Such sneezing and choking! It spoiled all the pomp and dignity of the procession. The man whose business it was to cry, “Get down on your knees,” seized the old fool by the collar, dragged him from the tree, and tumbled him and his ash-basket into the ditch by the road. Then, beating him soundly, he left him for dead.
pomp : pride a particle : even a little bit seized : caught tumbled : threw soundly : a lot
Explanation of the Above Passage – The story of the wonder spread throughout the village and eventually the wicked couple got to hear it. The greedy man took some of the ashes which had magical powers and went out on the highway. He did just as the old man did – He waited till the lord’s train came by and instead of following the custom of remaining prostrate, he climbed a withered cherry blossom tree. When the lord himself was right under the tree he threw not a pinch but a handful of the ashes over the tree. The ashes didn’t transform the withered tree into a blooming one. Instead, the ashes remained ashes only. The ashes fell on the lord and his wife, and since they were a lot, it made the couple sneeze and choke, which ruined the pride and dignity of the procession. TThe man who had the duty of ordering people to get down on their knees, seized the wicked old fool by the collar, dragged him from the tree, and threw him and his basket full of ash into the ditch by the road. As a punishment, he beat the old man soundly and left him on the spot to die.
Passage – Thus the wicked old man died in the mud, but the kind friend of the dog dwelt in peace and plenty, and both he and his wife lived to a green old age.
Word Meaning: green : healthy, active and prosperous
Explanation of the Above Passage – Thus, the story ends with the wicked old man dying in the mud and the kind friend of the dog living in peace with wife a green old age.
Also, see – Class 7 History MCQs
Comprehension Check
Q1. Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
Ans. The neighbours were wicked and cruel who lost their tempers when the dog, Muko found a dead kitten buried in the earth instead of gold.
Q2. Mark the right item. (i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog (a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work. (b) as if it was their own baby. (c) as they were kind to all living beings.
Ans. (b) as if it was their own baby.
(ii) When the old couple became rich, they (a) gave the dog better food. (b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast. (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
Ans. (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make (a) rice pastry and bean sauce. (b) magic ash to win rewards. (c) a pile of gold.
Ans. (c) a pile of gold.
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
Q1. The old farmer is a kind person. What evidence of his kindness do you find in the first two paragraphs.
Ans. The old farmer was a kind person. He loved Muko as though it were their human child. He fed the pet with tidbits of fish from their own chopsticks, and all the boiled rice it wanted. The old man was not only kind to his pet dog but also towards the white heron which used to follow him into the fields and the birds for whom he used to turn up a sod on purpose.
Q2. What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold?
Ans. The dog came running to the farmer. He put his paws against his legs and motioned with his to the spot where the hidden gold was. However, the old man, thinking that the dog was just playing with him, ignored him. The dog started whining and running to and fro and wouldn’t stop doing so. Finally, the old man gave in and followed the dog to the spot he was motioning towards. When they reached the spot, the dog started pawing it and began scratching it lively. The old man then struck his hoe at the spot, thinking it was just a bone or a bit of a fish buried there. Instead, he found the hidden gold.
Q3. (i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?
Ans. The spirit of the dog first asked him to cut down the pine tree near his grave. The dog-spirit instructed the old man to make a mortar for the rice pastry and a mill for thebean sauce from it.
(ii) How did it help him next?
Ans. The dog-spirit again came in the old man’s dream after the mill and mortar had been destroyed by the wicked neighbours. That time, the spirit asked the old man to collect the ashes of the burnt mill and mortar, and to sprinkle it over the withered trees to make them bloom.
Q4. Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish his neighbour for the same act?
Ans. The daimio rewarded the farmer but punished his neighbour for the same act because even though the actions were the same, the results were different from one another. When the farmer spread the ashes on the withered cherry blossom tree, it bloomed whereas when the neighbour spread the ashes on the withered cherry blossom tree, it didn’t bloom at all. Instead, due to the wind, the ashes went into the mouths and noses of the daimio and his wife, which caused a lot of sneezing and choking. This ruined te pride and dignity of the procession which angered the daimio.
Working with Language
Q1. Read the following paragraph and frame questions on the italicised phrases. Anil is in school . I am in school too. Anil is sitting in the left row . He is reading a book . Anil’s friend is sitting in the second row . He is sharpening his pencil . The teacher is writing on the blackboard. Children are writing in their copybooks. Some children are looking out of the window. (i) ____________________ (ii) ___________________ (iii) ___________________ (iv) ___________________ (v) ___________________ (vi) __________________ (vii)__________________
Ans. (i) Where is Anil? (ii) Where is Anil sitting? (iii) What is he doing? (iv) Where is Anil’s friend sitting? (v) What is he doing? (vi) Who is writing on the blackboard? (vii) What are some children doing?
Q2. Write appropriate question words in the blank spaces in the following dialogue. NEHA : ___________ did you get this book? SHEELA : Yesterday morning. NEHA : ___________ is your sister crying? SHEELA : Because she has lost her doll. NEHA : ___________ room is this, yours or hers? SHEELA : It’s ours. NEHA : ___________ do you go to school? SHEELA : We walk to school. It is nearby Ans. NEHA : When did you get this book? SHEELA : Yesterday morning. NEHA : Why is your sister crying? SHEELA : Because she has lost her doll. NEHA : Whose room is this, yours or hers? SHEELA : It’s ours. NEHA : How do you go to school? SHEELA : We walk to school. It is nearby.
Q3. Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box.
(i) My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know ________ to do and ________to look for it. (ii) There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can’t decide _______ one to buy. (iii) You don’t know the way to my school. Ask the policeman _______ to get there. (iv) You should decide soon ___________ to start building your house. (v) Do you know _________ to ride a bicycle? I don’t remember ________ and ________I learnt it. (vi) “You should know _________ to talk and ________ to keep your mouth shut,” the teacher advised Anil.
Ans. (i) My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know what to do and where to look for it. ‘ (ii) There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can’t decide which one to buy. (iii) You don’t know the way to my school. Ask the policeman how to get there. (iv) You should decide soon where to start building your house. (v) Do you know how to ride a bicycle? I don’t remember how and when I learnt it. (vi) “You should know how to talk and when to keep your mouth shut,” the teacher advised Anil.
Q4. Add im- or in- to each of the following words and use them in place of the italicised words in the sentences given below.
(i) The project appears very difficult at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard. (ii) He lacks competence . That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year. (iii) “Don’t lose patience . Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me. (iv) That’s not a proper remark to make under the circumstances. (v) He appears to be without sensitivity . In fact, he is very emotional. (i) The project appears impossible at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard. (ii) He is incompetent . That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year. (iii) “Don’t be impatient . Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me. (iv) That’s an improper remark to make under the circumstances. (v) He appears to be insensitive . In fact, he is very emotional.
Q5. Read the following sentences. It was a cold morning and stars still glowed in the sky. An old man was walking along the road. The words in italics are articles. ‘A’ and ‘an’ are indefinite articles and ‘the’ is the definite article. ‘A’ is used before a singular countable noun. ‘An’ is used before a word that begins with a vowel.
Use a, an or the in the blanks. There was once ________ play which became very successful. ___________ famous actor was acting in it. In _____________ play his role was that of __________ aristocrat who had been imprisoned in __________ castle for twenty years. In _______ last act of play someone would come on stage with __________ letter which he would hand over to _________ prisoner. Even though __________ aristocrat was not expected to read _________ letter at each performance, he always insisted that ___________ letter be written out from beginning to end. Ans. There was once a play which became very successful. A famous actor was acting in it. In the play his role was that of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in a castle for twenty years. In the last act of play someone would come on stage with a letter which he would hand over to a prisoner. Even though the aristocrat was not expected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that the letter be written out from beginning to end.
Q6. Encircle the correct article.
A : Would you like (a/an/the) apple or (a/an/the) banana? B : I’d like (a/an/the) apple, please. A : Take (a/an/the) red one in (a/an/the) fruit bowl. You may take (a/an/the) orange also, if you like. B : Which one? A : (A/An/The) one beside (a/an/the) banana. Ans. A : Would you like an apple or a banana? B : I’d like an apple, please. A : Take the red one in the fruit bowl. You may take an orange also, if you like. B : Which one? A : The one beside the banana.
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admin December 15, 2020 7th Class , English 1,956 Views
Question : why did the neighbours kill the dog.
Answer: The neighbours killed the dog in anger. They have expected the dog to help them get a treasure, but the dog had rather taken them to a foul smelling dead kitten.
(a) the old farmer and his wife loved the dog.
Answer: In the first paragraph it is written that the old farmer treated the dog like his own child. He will feed the dog small pieces of fish with their own chopsticks and offer boiled rice to him as much as he wanted. The second paragraph says that to provide food to the birds, the old farmer will often turn up the surface of the ground.
Both these instances proved that the old man was a kind person.
Answer: The dog came running towards the farmer. It kept his paws against his legs and with its head it kept on directing towards a spot behind him. The old man initially ignored the dog , but it kept on whining and running to and from until the farmer followed it to the spot.
The farmer did this in front of the daimio (the landlord) and was awarded with lavish gifts.
Answer: The farmer had sprinkled the ash over the withered cherry tree and it blossomed. Daimio was pleased seeing the miracle and he rewarded the farmer. His neighbour poured the ash over the cherry tree, but nothing happened to the tree.
Fine particles from the ash entered the eyes of the daimio and his wife. They began to sneeze and cough.
This spoiled the splendor of the procession and so the neighbour was punished by man of the landlord.
Ravi : What are you doing? Mridu : I’m reading a book. Ravi : Who wrote it? Mridu : Ruskin Bond. Ravi : Where did you find it? Mridu : In the library.
Notice that ‘what’, ‘who’, ‘where’, are question words. Questions that require information begin with question words. Some other question words are ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘where’, ‘which’ and ‘how’.
Anil is in school. i am in school too. anil is sitting in the left row. he is reading a book. anil’s friend is sitting in the second row. he is sharpening his pencil. the teacher is writing on the blackboard. children are writing in their copybooks. some children are looking out of the window..
Neha : ………… did you get this book? Sheela : Yesterday morning. Neha : ………… is your sister crying? Sheela : Because she has lost her doll. Neha : …………… room is this, yours or hers? Sheela : It’s ours Neha : ……………. do you go to school? Sheela : We walk to the school. It is nearby.
Answer: When, Why, Whose, How
How what when where which.
Patient proper possible sensitive competent.
It was a cold morning and stars still glowed in the sky. An old man was walking along the road. The words in italicized are articles. ‘A’ and ‘an’ are indefinite articles and ‘the’ is the definite article. ‘A’ is used before a singular countable noun. ‘An’ is used before a word that begins with a vowel.
Use a, an or the in the blanks..
There was once ………… play which became very successful. ………… famous actor was acting in it. In ………. play his role was that of ……….. aristocrat who had been imprisoned in …………. castle for twenty years. In……… last act of ……….. play someone would come on ……… stage with ………… letter which he would hand over ……….. to prisoner. Even though …………. aristocrat was not expected to read ………. letter at each performance, he always insisted that ………… letter be written out from beginning to end.
(i) a (ii) A (iii) the (iv) an (v) a (vi) the (vii) the (viii) the (ix) a (x) the (xi) the (xii) the (xiii) the
Nina was looking for ( a /the) job, After many interviews she got (a/ the ) jobs he was looking for.
A: Would you like (a / an / the) apple or (a / an / the) banana? B: I’d like (a / an / the) apple, please. A: Take (a / an / the) red one in (a / an/ the) fruit bowl. You may take (a / an / the) orange also, if you like. B: Which one? A: (A / An / The) one beside (a/an/the) banana.
Answer: (A) an, a (B) an (A) the, the, an (B) – (A) The, the
Answer: The kind farmer bought a piece of land, hosted a feast for his friends and helped his poor neighbours.
Answer: The daimio was pleased seeing the magic of the withered cherry tree bursting into a blossom. So he rewarded the kind farmer with many gifts.
Answer: The leader of the van allowed the old man to remain seated at the cherry tree considering him to be very old.
Answer: The wicked couple found the foul smell of the dead kitten unbearable so they dropped their tools.
Answer: The wicked couple always used to kick and scold the dogs passing by their house.
Answer: For the New Year the old couple planned to make rice pastries and bean sauce.
Answer: The wicked farmer was killed brutally by the daimio’s men and was thus punished for his greed.
Answer: The old couple treated the dog as their own child. The old farmer had created a cushion made of blue crepe for the dog. During the meals they used to feed the dog plenty of rice and tidbits of fish from their own chopstick.
Answer: It was winter season and the cherry tree in the old couple’s garden didn’t have leaves. The old man sprinkled a pinch of the ashes and blossoms sprouted out of it. Pink flowers came on it and their fragrance filled the air.
Answer: The dog made his masters rich by giving them gold coins. His masters became prosperous with it and bought a piece of land. He then asked them to collect the ashes which had the power to sprout blossoms of a withered tree. This magic was seen by the daimio and rewarded the old couple for this magic.
Answer: When the wicked farmer sprinkled the ash over the cherry tree it didn’t bring in a change on it. The fine particles from the ash entered the eyes of daimio and his wife. They began to cough and sneeze. All the lavishness of the procession was spoiled.
Answer: The dog when he was alive guided his master to a heap of gold. After his death he asked his master to prepare a mortar and a mill from the woods of the pine tree.
While making the rice pastries and bean sauce during the New Year using the mortar and the mill, the kind old couple again found the dough to be turned into gold coins and gold dripping out from every drop of the sauce.
The dog then asked the master to collect the ashes of the mortar and mill and sprinkle over the withered trees. The withered trees sprouted into blossom immediately with the magic.
Answer: First time when the neighbour tried to be rich, all he got was a foul smelling dead kitten.
In their second attempt the old couple got heap of worms from the dough of rice pastry and the bean sauce. In the third attempt the old man failed to create magic with the ashes. He spoiled daimio’s procession and was killed by his men as a punishment.
Directions 1 (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Then they dragged him out of doors, taking a spade and hoe with them. No sooner had the dog got near a pine tree growing in the garden than he began to paw and scratch the ground, as if a mighty treasure lay beneath.
Answer: The wicked old couple has been referred as ‘they’ in the above lines.
Answer: They dragged the good old couple’s dog from the doors.
Answer: They did so to find way to the treasure.
Directions 2 (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
“Goody me!’ cried the old hag, as she saw each dripping of sauce turning into yellow gold, until in a few minutes the tub under the mill was full of shining mass of gold. So the old couple was rich again.
Answer: The wicked old man’s wife has been referred as ‘old hag’ in the above lines.
The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom – Answer: She was peeping from the window to watch the incident.
Answer: Bean sauce has been referred in above lines.
Question: what is the process that is taking place in the above lines.
The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom – Answer:
Directions 3 (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
He sprinkled a pinch of ashes on it, and lo! It sprouted blossoms until it became a cloud of pink blooms which perfumed the air. The news of this filled the village and everyone ran out to see the wonder. The covetous couple also heard the story and gathering up the ashes
Answer: The kind old farmer has been referred in these lines as ‘he’.
Answer: The cherry tree has been referred as ‘it’ in the given lines.
Answer: The withered bare cherry tree has been transformed into a blossom with the ashes of mill and mortar sprinkled over it. This wonder has been referred in the given lines.
The ashes that made trees bloom – question : find a word from the given lines that means ‘flower’..
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School Name: Himalaya Public School, Sector 13, Rohini, Delhi 110085 India Time: 4o minutes Marks: 20 Class: 11th class Date: 19/08/2019 …
Fresh Reads
Ans. The jealous old neighbours killed the dog out of anger and frustration. They first tried to please the dog. They hoped that the dog would lead them to a treasure. But when the dog led them to a dead kitten, they got angry and killed it.
Ans. The old farmer was very kind-hearted and loving. He loved and fed his pet dog as though it were their own baby. When he went to his fields, he often turned up a sod so as to give food to the heron birds.
Ans. The dog came running to his master. It wanted the man to follow him to a spot. He led them to a place where a lot of gold was buried. Thus the poor old couple became rich.
Ans. The spirit of the dog first appeared in the old man’s dream. It urged him to cut down the pine tree, make a mortar for the rice pastry and a hand mill for his bean sauce. The farmer followed the instructions and got gold coins.
Ans. The dog’s spirit asked the farmer in his dream to take the ashes of the mill and spread it on a withered tree to make it green at once. The farmer scattered the ash on the cherry tree when the landlord passed along the road. The rich landlord gave him many rewards. This way the dog’s spirit helped the farmer a second time.
Ans. The daimio rewarded the kind old man for turning the tree into scented flowers in a moment. But he punished the wicked and greedy farmer for scattering foul smelling ash on the tree.
Anil is in school . I am in school too. Anil is sitting in the left row . He is reading a book . Anil’s friend is sitting in the second row. He is sharpening his pencil . The teacher is writing on the blackboard . Children are writing in their copybooks. Some children are looking out of the window .
how, what, when, where, which
patient, proper, possible, sensitive, competent
(1) ______________ play which became very successful. (2)______________ famous actor was acting in it. In (3) ______________ play his role was that of (4) ______________ aristocrat who had been imprisoned in (5) ______________ castle for twenty years. In (6) ______________ last act of (7) ______________ play someone would come on (8) ______________ stage with (9) ______________ letter which he would hand over to (10) ______________ prisoner. Even though (11) ______________ aristocrat was not expected to read (12) ______________ letter at each performance, he always insisted that (13) ______________ letter be written out from beginning to end.
What is fascism by george orwell, the shoemaker and the devil by anton chekhov.
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Ncert solutions for class 7th: ch 4 the ashes that made trees bloom honeycomb, contact form.
The ashes that made trees bloom.
• the indefinite article ‘a’ is used before a singular countable noun when it is used for the first time. When the same item is referred to again, the definite article ‘the’ is used before it.
• ‘the’ is also used before an adjective like ‘poor’ or ‘rich’ to refer to the whole class.
– the poor and the weak
– the rich and the prosperous
– the down-trodden
What does ‘with a German/Indian accent’ really mean?
Now give children a break. Switch over to another task after a short break.
Once there was a talking fan,
Could with confidence scan
And the way it talked, no man
The message of the talking fan.
However quiet, crazy or wild,
Or woman or child,
The Cat gave a yell And sprang to the ground, Pleased as Punch...
there are five words beginning with the letter S. Each refers to the cat. Find these words.
This is a story about an honest and hardworking old couple and their pet dog. The neighbours are troublesome, and the dog dies a sad death. The spirit of the dog gives solace and support to his master in unexpected ways.
In the good old days of the daimios, there lived an old couple whose only pet was a little dog. Having no children, they loved it as though it were a baby. The old dame made it a cushion of blue crape, and at mealtime Muk o — for that was its nam e — would sit on it as snug as any cat. The kind people fed the pet with tidbits of fish from their own chopsticks, and all the boiled rice it wanted. Thus treated, the dumb creature loved its protectors like a being with a soul.
The old man, being a rice farmer, went daily with hoe or spade into the fields, working hard from morning until O Tento Sama (as the sun is called) had gone down behind the hills. Every day the dog followed him to work, never once harming the white heron that walked in the footsteps of the old man to pick up the worms. For the old fellow was patient and kind to everything that had life, and often turned up a sod on purpose to give food to the birds.
turned up: dug up on purpose: intentionally gleamed: shone/glittered
One day the dog came running to him, putting his paws against his legs and motioning with his head to some spot behind. The old man at first thought his pet was only playing and did not mind it. But the dog kept on whining and running to and fro for some minutes. Then the old man followed the dog a few yards to a place where the animal began a lively scratching. Thinking it was possibly a buried bone or bit of fish, the old man struck his hoe in the earth, when, lo! a pile of gold gleamed before him.
Thus in an hour the old couple were made rich. The good souls bought a piece of land, made a feast for their friends, and gave plentifully to their poor neighbours. As for the dog, they petted him till they nearly smothered him with kindness.
Now in the same village there lived a wicked old man and his wife, not a bit sensitive and kind, who had always kicked and scolded all dogs whenever any passed their house. Hearing of their neighbours’ good luck, they coaxed the dog into their garden and set before him bits of fish and other dainties, hoping he would find treasure for them. But the dog, being afraid of the cruel pair, would neither eat nor move.
Then they dragged him out of doors, taking a spade and hoe with them. No sooner had the dog got near a pine tree growing in the garden than he began to paw and scratch the ground, as if a mighty treasure lay beneath.
“Quick, wife, hand me the spade and hoe!” cried the greedy old fool, as he danced with joy.
Then the covetous old fellow, with a spade, and the old crone, with a hoe, began to dig; but there was nothing but a dead kitten, the smell of which made them drop their tools and shut their noses. Furious at the dog, the old man kicked and beat him to death, and the old woman finished the work by nearly chopping off his head with the sharp hoe. They then flung him into the hole and heaped the earth over his carcass.
The owner of the dog heard of the death of his pet and, mourning for him as if he had been his own child, went at night under the pine tree. He set up some bamboo tubes in the ground, such as are used before tombs, in which he put fresh flowers. Then he laid a cup of water and a tray of food on the grave and burned several costly sticks of incense. He mourned a great while over his pet, calling him many dear names, as if he were alive.
That night the spirit of the dog appeared to him in a dream and said, “Cut down the pine tree over my grave, and make from it a mortar for your rice pastry and a mill for your bean sauce.”
So the old man chopped down the tree and cut out of the middle of the trunk a section about two feet long. With great labour, partly by fire, partly by the chisel, he scraped out a hollow place as big as a small bowl. He then made a long-handled hammer of wood, such as is used for pounding rice. When New Year’s time drew near, he wished to make some rice pastry. When the rice was all boiled, granny put it into the mortar, the old man lifted his hammer to pound the mass into dough, and the blows fell heavy and fast till the pastry was all ready for baking. Suddenly the whole mass turned into a heap of gold coins. When the old woman took the hand-mill, and filling it with beans began to grind, the gold dropped like rain.
Meanwhile the envious neighbour peeped in at the window when the boiled beans were being ground.
“Goody me!” cried the old hag, as she saw each dripping of sauce turning into yellow gold, until in a few minutes the tub under the mill was full of a shining mass of gold.
So the old couple were rich again. The next day the stingy and wicked neighbour came and borrowed the mortar and magic mill. They filled one with boiled rice and the other with beans. Then the old man began to pound and the woman to grind. But at the first blow and turn, the pastry and sauce turned into a foul mass of worms. Still more angry at this, they chopped the mill into pieces, to use as firewood.
1. Why did the neighbours kill the dog? 2. Mark the right item. (i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog (a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work. (b) as if it was their own baby. (c) as they were kind to all living beings. (ii) When the old couple became rich, they (a) gave the dog better food. (b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast. (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours. (iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make (a) rice pastry and bean sauce. (b) magic ash to win rewards. (c) a pile of gold.
Not long after that, the good old man dreamed again, and the spirit of the dog spoke to him, telling him how the wicked people had burned the mill made from the pine tree. “Take the ashes of the mill, sprinkle them on the withered trees, and they will bloom again,” said the dog-spirit.
withered: bare and dry
The old man awoke and went at once to his wicked neighbour’s house, where he found the miserable old pair sitting at the edge of their square fireplace, in the middle of the floor, smoking and spinning. From time to time they warmed their hands and feet with the blaze from some bits of the mill, while behind them lay a pile of the broken pieces.
The good old man humbly asked for the ashes. Though the covetous couple turned up their noses at him and scolded him as if he were a thief, they let him fill his basket with the ashes.
On coming home, the old man took his wife into the garden. It being winter, their favourite cherry tree was bare. He sprinkled a pinch of ashes on it, and, lo! it sprouted blossoms until it became a cloud of pink blooms which perfumed the air. The news of this filled the village, and everyone ran out to see the wonder.
turned up their noses: treated him with contempt
The covetous couple also heard the story, and, gathering up the remaining ashes of the mill, kept them to make withered trees blossom.
The kind old man, hearing that his lord, the daimio, was to pass along the high road near the village, set out to see him, taking his basket of ashes. As the train approached, he climbed up into an old withered cherry tree that stood by the wayside.
The train drew near. One tall, competent man marched ahead, crying out to the people by the way, “Get down on your knees! Get down on your knees!” And every one kneeled down while the procession was passing.
Suddenly the leader of the van caught sight of the aged man up in the tree. He was about to call out to him in an angry tone, but, seeing he was such an old fellow, he pretended not to notice him and passed him by. So, when the daimio’s palanquin drew near, the old man, taking a pinch of ashes from his basket, scattered it over the tree. In a moment it burst into blossom.
train: procession prostrate: lying on the ground face downward palanquin: royal van/cart gleefully: happily
The delighted daimio ordered the train to be stopped and got out to see the wonder. Calling the old man to him, he thanked him and ordered presents of silk robes, sponge-cake, fans and other rewards to be given him. He even invited him to his castle.
So the old man went gleefully home to share his joy with his dear old wife.
daimios: (in 19th century Japan) wealthy landowners snug: comfortable a being with a soul: like a human child (showing emotion)
But when the greedy neighbour heard of it, he took some of the magic ashes and went out on the highway. There he waited until a daimio’s train came along and, instead of kneeling down like the crowd, he climbed a withered cherry tree.
When the daimio himself was almost directly under him, he threw a handful of ashes over the tree, which did not change a particle. The wind blew the fine dust in the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife. Such sneezing and choking! It spoiled all the pomp and dignity of the procession. The man whose business it was to cry, “Get down on your knees,” seized the old fool by the collar, dragged him from the tree, and tumbled him and his ash-basket into the ditch by the road. Then, beating him soundly, he left him for dead.
Thus the wicked old man died in the mud, but the kind friend of the dog dwelt in peace and plenty, and both he and his wife lived to a green old age.
Answer the following questions. 1. The old farmer is a kind person. What evidence of his kindness do you find in the first two paragraphs. 2. What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold? 3. (i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first? (ii) How did it help him next? 4. Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish his neighbour for the same act?
1. Read the following conversation.
Ravi : What are you doing?
Mridu : I’m reading a book.
Ravi : Who wrote it?
Mridu : Ruskin Bond.
Ravi : Where did you find it?
Mridu : In the library.
Notice that ‘what’, ‘who’, ‘where’, are question words . Questions that require information begin with question words. Some other question words are ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘where’, ‘which’ and ‘how’.
Remember that • What asks about actions, things, etc. • Who asks about people. • Which asks about people or things. • Where asks about place. • When asks about time. • Why asks about reason or purpose. • How asks about means, manner or degree. • Whose asks about possessions.
Read the following paragraph and frame questions on the italicised phrases.
Anil is in school. I am in school too. Anil is sitting in the left row . He is reading a book . Anil’s friend is sitting in the second row . He is sharpening his pencil . The teacher is writing on the blackboard. Children are writing in their copybooks. Some children are looking out of the window .
2. Write appropriate question words in the blank spaces in the following dialogue.
3. Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box.
how what when where which
4. Add im- or in- to each of the following words and use them in place of the italicised words in the sentences given below.
patient proper possible sensitive competent
(i) The project appears very difficult at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
(ii) He lacks competence. That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year.
(iii) “Don’t lose patience. Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me.
(iv) That’s not a proper remark to make under the circumstances.
(v) He appears to be without sensitivity. In fact, he is very emotional.
5. Read the following sentences.
It was a cold morning and stars still glowed in the sky. An old man was walking along the road.
The words in italics are articles. ‘A’ and ‘an’ are inde f inite articles and ‘the’ is the definite article . ‘A’ is used before a singular countable noun. ‘An’ is used before a word that begins with a vowel.
• a boy • an actor
• a mango • an apple
• a university • an hour
Use a, an or the in the blanks.
6. Encircle the correct article.
Nina was looking for ( a / the) job. After many interviews she got (a / the ) job she was looking for.
A : Would you like (a/an/the) apple or (a/an/the) banana?
B : I’d like (a/an/the) apple, please.
A : Take (a/an/the) red one in (a/an/the) fruit bowl. You may take (a/an/the) orange also, if you like.
B : Which one?
A : (A/An/The) one beside (a/an/the) banana.
1. Do you remember an anecdote or a story about a greedy or jealous person and the unhappy result of his/her action? Narrate the story to others in your class. Here is one for you to read.
Seeing an old man planting a fig tree, the king asked why he was doing this. The man replied that he might live to eat the fruit, and, even if he did not, his son would enjoy the figs.
“Well,” said the king, “if you do live to eat the fruit of this tree, please let me know.” The man promised to do so, and sure enough , before too long, the tree grew and bore fruit.
Packing some fine figs in a basket, the old man set out for the palace to meet the king.
The king accepted the gift and gave orders that the old man’s basket be filled with gold.
Now, next door to the old man, there lived a greedy old man jealous of his neighbour’s good fortune. He also packed some figs in a basket and took them to the palace in the hope of getting gold.
The king, on learning the man’s motive, ordered him to stand in the compound and had him pelted with figs. The old man returned home and told his wife the sad story. She consoled him by saying, “You should be thankful that our neighbour did not grow coconuts.”
2. Put each of the following in the correct order. Then use them appropriately to fill the blanks in the paragraph that follows. Use correct punctuation marks.
• English and Hindi/both/in/he writes
• and only/a few short stories/many books in English/ in Hindi
• is/my Hindi/than my English/much better
3. Are you fond of reading stories? Did you read one last month? If not, read one or two and then write a paragraph about the story. Use the following hints. • title of the story • name of author • how many characters • which one you liked • some details of the story • main point(s) as you understand it
Tell your friends why they should also read it.
Thought What? I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn’t the thought I thought I thought.
Ask yourself as well as your partner: Do you like to be always told what to do or not to do? Do grown-ups do this, in your experience?
Note: To chivvy is to nag, “to continuously urge someone to do something, often in an annoying way”, according to the dictionary. Read the poem now.
Grown-ups say things like: Speak up Don’t talk with your mouth full Don’t stare Don’t point Don’t pick your nose
Sit up Say please Less noise Shut the door behind you Don’t drag your feet Haven’t you got a hankie ? Take your hands out of your pockets
Pull your socks up Stand up straight Say thank you Don’t interrupt No one thinks you’re funny Take your elbows off the table
Can’t you make your own mind up about anything ?
Michael Rosen
1. Discuss these questions in small groups before you answer them. (i) When is a grown-up likely to say this? Don’t talk with your mouth full.
(ii) When are you likely to be told this? Say thank you.
(iii) When do you think an adult would say this? No one thinks you are funny.
2. The last two lines of the poem are not prohibitions or instructions. What is the adult now asking the child to do? Do you think the poet is suggesting that this is unreasonable? Why?
3. Why do you think grown-ups say the kind of things mentioned in the poem? Is it important that they teach children good manners, and how to behave in public?
4. If you had to make some rules for grown-ups to follow, what would you say? Make at least five such rules. Arrange the lines as in a poem.
NCERT Books
NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English . Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom.
IMPORTANT PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct option :
Question 1. The good souls bought a piece of land, made a feast for their friends, and gave plentifully to their poor neighbours. (Page 57) Multiple Choice Questions Question 1. The good souls turned rich (a) suddenly (b) in an hour (c) within a short time (d) overnight Answer. (b) in an hour
Question 2.
The quality of feasting and sharing shows their (a) kindness (b) generosity (c) concern (d) goodness Answer. (b) generosity
Question 3. Which part of speech is plentifully (a) adjective (b) verb (c) adverb (d) noun Answer. (c) adverb
Question 2. That night the spirit of the dog appeared to him in a dream and said “Cut down the pine tree over my grave, (Page 58) Questions.
Question 3. “Take the ashes of the mill, sprinkle them on the withered trees and they will bloom again,” said the dog-spirit (Page 60) Multiple Choice Questions Question 1. The miracle of ashes was tried on (a) the mill (b) the withered trees (c) the blossoms (d) the mortar Answer. (b) the withered trees
Question 2. The withered trees sprouted as (a) green trees (b) beauty (c) flowers (d) blossoms Answer. (d) blossoms
Question 3. The ashes had to be (a) kept on the tree (b) hidden under the tree (c) sprinkled on the tree (d) tied to the tree Answers Answer. (c) sprinkled on the tree
Question 4. The delighted daimio ordered the train to be stopped and got out to see the wonder. (Page 62) Questions.
Question 5. The wind blew the fine dust in the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife (Page 63) Multiple Choice Questions Question 1. The greedy neighbour threw ashes on (a) pine tree (b) the cherry tree (c) the withered cherry tree (d) the withered pine tree Answer. (c) the withered cherry tree
Question 2. The result was (a) the tree blossomed (b) the tree did blossom partially (c) that sneezing and choking made daimio and his wife uncomfortable (d) good Answer. (c) that sneezing and choking made daimio and his wife uncomfortable
Question 3. The action of the wicked neighbour also spoiled (a) the pomp and dignity of the procession (b) the discipline of the crowd (c) the mood of the body guard (d) the leader’s uniform Answer. (a) the pomp and dignity of the procession
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Comprehension Check (Page 60) Question 1. Why did the neighbours kill the dog ? Answer. The neighbours killed the dog out of frustration. They had tried to tempt and please the dog. First they offered him fish and other dainties. The dog was afraid of them. He did not touch the food. Then they dragged him out of doors. They hoped him to find treasure for them. The dog began to scratch the ground under a pine tree. The couple was happy. They began to dig. Instead of the treasure, they found a dead kitten. The couple was now very angry. So they killed the dog.
Question 2. Mark the right item
(i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog (a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work. (b) as if it was their own baby. (c) as they were kind to all living beings. Answer. (b) as if it was their own baby.
(ii) When the old couple became rich, they (a) gave the dog better food. (b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast.. (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours. Answer. (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make (a) rice pastry and bean sauce. (b) magic ash to win rewards. (c) a pile of gold. Answer. (c) a pile of gold.
Working with the Text Answer the following Questions : Question 1. The old farmer is a kind person. What evidence of his kindness do you find in the first two paragraphs ? Answer. The evidence of his kindness can be seen in his treatment of his pet. He loved the dog as though it were a baby. He fed him with his own chopsticks. He gave him all the boiled rice he wanted. A white heron followed the old man when he went to the fields. He never once harmed this heron. Moreover, he often turned up a sod on purpose to give food to the birds. Thus the old farmer was kind to everything that had life.
Question 2. What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold ? Answer. One day the farmer was going to his fields. As usual the dog was following him. All of a sudden, the dog came running to him. He was also motioning with his head to some spot behind. The old man tried to ignore him. The dog kept on whining and running to and fro. In the end, the old man followed him. The dog brought him to a place where he began a lively scratching. The old man struck his hoe in the earth at that place. Soon, a pile of gold was found.
Question 3. (i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first ? (ii) How did it help him next ? Answers. (i) First the spirit of the dog appeared to him in a dream. It urged him to cut down the pine tree over his grave and make from it a mortar for the rice pastry. It also asked him to make a mill of that wood for his bean sauce. The farmer did so. The farmer’s wife put the boiled rice into the mortar. The farmer pounded the rice into dough. Suddenly the whole mass turned into gold coins. Now the old woman began to grind the beans for sauce. Gold dropped like rain. Thus the spirit of the dog helped the farmer first. (ii) Then the wicked people had burnt the farmer’s mill. Now the good man dreamed again. This time the spirit asked him to take the ashes of the mill. He asked the old man to sprinkle them on withered trees. The old man awoke. He went to his wicked neighbour and humbly asked for the ashes. Thus he filled his basket with the ashes. The farmer’s favourite cherry tree was bare. He sprinkled a pinch of ashes on it. All at once the tree sprouted blossoms. The kind farmer heard that the daimio was to pass along the high road. He set out to see him. The old man quietly got up on a bare tree. When the daimio’s palanquin drew near, the old man scattered the ashes. In a moment the tree burst into blossoms. The happy daimio stopped and called the old farmer. He gave him many rewards. Thus the spirit of the dog had helped the farmer again.
Question 4. Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish his neighbour for the same act ? Answer. The farmer and his neighbour had done the same action. The results of the two actions were, however, not the same. The farmer’s act had filled the tree with flowers. So the daimio rewarded the farmer. The act of the farmer’s neighbour had caused trouble to the daimio. The ashes entered the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife. It caused much sneezing and choking. It spoiled all the pomp and dignity of the procession. So the daimio punished that neighbour of the farmer.
Working with Language Question 1. Read the following conversation : Ravi : What are you doing? Mridu : I’m reading a book. Ravi : Who wrote it ? Mridu : Ruskin Bond. Ravi : Where did you find it ? Mridu : In the library. Notice that ‘whať, ‘who’, ‘where’, are question words. Questions that require information begin with question words. Some other question words are ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘where’, ‘which’ and ‘how’. Remember that • What asks about actions, things, etc. • Who asks about people. • Which asks about people or things. • Where asks about place. • When asks about time. • Why asks about reason or purpose. • How asks about means, manner or degree. • Whose asks about possessions. Read the following paragraph and frame questions on the italicised phrases. Anil is in school. I am in school too. Anil is sitting in the left row. He is reading a book. Anil’s friend is sitting in the second row. He is sharpening his pencil. The teacher is writing on the blackboard. Children are writing in their copybooks. Some children are looking out of the window. Answers.
Question 2. Write appropriate question words in the blank spaces in the following dialogue : Neha : ……… did you get this book ? Sheela : Yesterday morning. Neha : ………. is your sister crying ? Sheela : Because she has lost her doll. Neha : ………. room is this, yours or hers ? Sheela : It’s ours. Neha : ………. do you go to school ? Sheela : We walk to school. It is near by. Answers. (a) When did you get this book ? (b) Why is your sister crying ? (c) Whose room is this, yours or hers ? (d) How do you go to school ?
(i) My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know (a) ……….. to do and (b) …….. to look for it. (ii) There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can’t decide ……… one tobuy. (iii) You don’t know the way to my school. Ask the policeman ……… to get there. (iv) You should decide soon …….. to start building your house. (v) Do you know (a) ………. to ride a bicycle ? I don’t remember (b) ……… and (c) ……….. I learnt it. (vi) “You should know (a) …….. to talk and (b) ……. to keep your mouth shut,” the teacher advised Anil. Answers.
(i) The project appears very difficult at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard. (ii) He lacks competence. That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year. (iii) “Don’t lose patience. Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me. (iv) That’s not a proper remark to make under the circumstances. (v) He appears to be without sensitivity. In fact, he is very emotional. Answers.
Question 5. Read the following sentences : It was a cold morning and stars still glowed in the sky. An old man was walking along the road. The words in italics are articles. ‘A’ and ‘an’ are indefinite articles and ‘the’ is the definite article. ‘A’ is used before a singular countable noun. ‘An’ is used before a word that begins with a vowel. • a boy • an actor • a mango • an apple • a university • an hour
Use a, an or the in the blanks. There was once ………. play which became very successful. ……. famous actor was acting in it. In ……….. play his role was that of ……… aristocrat who had been imprisoned in …….. castle for twenty years. In ……….. last act of play someone would come on stage with …… letter which he would hand over to ……. prisoner. Even though ………. aristocrat was not expected to read …….. letter at each performance, he always insisted that …… letter be written out from beginning to end. Answer. There was once a play which became very successful. A famous actor was acting in it. In the play his role was that of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in a castle for twenty years. In the last act of the play someone would come on the stage with a letter which he would hand over to the prisoner. Even though the aristocrat was not expected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that the letter be written out from beginning to end.
Question 6. Encircle the correct article : Neena was looking for ( a /the) job. After many interviews she got (a/ the job she was looking for. A : Would you like (a/an/the) apple or (a/an/the) banana ? B : I’d like (a/an/the) apple, please. A : Take (a/an/the) red one in (a/an/the) fruit bowl. You may take (a/an/the) orange also, if you like. B : Which one ? A : (A/An/The) one beside (a/an/the) banana. Answers. A : Would you like an apple or a banana ? B : I’d like an apple please. A : Take the red one in the fruit bowl. You may take an orange also, if you like. B : Whi ch one ? A : The one beside the banana.
Speaking and Writing Question 1. Do you remember an anecdote or a story about a greedy or jealous person and the unhappy result of his/her action ? Narrate the story to others in your class. Here is one for you to read. Seeing an old man planting a fig tree, the king asked why he was doing this. The man replied that he might live to eat the fruit, and, even if he did not, his son would enjoy the figs. “Well,” said the king, “if you do live to eat the fruit of this tree, please let me know.” The man promised to do so, and sure enough, before too long, the tree grew and bore fruit. Packing some fine figs in a basket, the old man set out for the palace to meet the king. The king accepted the gift and gave orders that the old man’s basket be filled with gold. Now, next door to the old man, there lived a greedy old man jealous of his neighbour’s good fortune. He also packed some figs in a basket and took them to the palace in the hope of getting gold. The king, on learning the man’s motive, ordered him to stand in the compound and had him pelted with figs. The old man returned home and told his wife the sad story. She consoled him by saying, “You should be thankful that our neighbour did not grow coconuts.” Answer. Try it yourself.
Question 2. Put each of the following in the correct order. Then use them appropriately to fill the blanks in the paragraph that follows. Use correct punctuation marks. • English and Hindi/both/in/he writes • and only/a few short stories/many books in English/in Hindi • is/my Hindi/than my English/much better Ravi Kant is a writer, and ………. . Of course, he is much happier writing in English than in Hindi. He has written ………. . I find his books a little hard to understand. …….. Answer. • he writes in both, English and Hindi. • many books in English and only a few short stories in Hindi. • My Hindi is much better than my English. Ravi Kant is a writer and he writes in both English and Hindi. Of course, he is much happier writing in English than in Hindi. He has written many books in English and only a few short stories in Hindi. I find his books a little hard to understand. My Hindi is much better than my English.
Question 3. Are you fond of reading stories ? Did you read one last month ? If not, read one or two and then write a paragraph about the story. Use the following hints.
Tell your friends why they should also read it. Answer. Try it yourself.
We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.
The Dear Departed Part 2 Question and Answers
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Students those who are searching NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom can refer to this article. This chapter contains many questions that are important for exams. Here we have provided answers to all these questions with a detailed explanation that help students to complete their assignments and homework.
Comprehension Check
Question 1. Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
Answer: The neighbours dragged the dog around their garden to find a treasure for themselves. When the dog stopped near a pine tree and started scratching the ground, they dug happily hoping to find a treasure. When they saw that there was nothing in there except a dead kitten, they became furious at the dog. They kicked it and beat it to death. They killed it because it did not help them find a treasure.
Question 2. Mark the right item.
(i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog
(a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work. (b) as if it was their own baby. (c) as they were kind to all living beings.
Answer: (b) as if it was their own baby.
(ii) When the old couple became rich, they
(a) gave the dog better food. (b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast. (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
Answer: (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbors.
(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make (a) rice pastry and bean sauce. (b) magic ash to win rewards. (c) a pile of gold
Answer: (c) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make a pile of gold.
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
Question 1. The old farmer is a kind person. What evidence of his kindness do you find in the first two paragraphs.
Answer: The old farmer was a kind person. He and his wife had a pet dog named Muko, as his baby. Having no children, they loved it as though it were a baby. They fed him fish from their own chopsticks and all the boiled rice he wanted. He was patient and kind to everything that had life and often turned up a sod on purpose to give food to the birds.
Question 2. What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold?
Answer: To lead the farmer to the hidden gold, the dog came running to the farmer and kept its paws against his legs. It continuously kept directing towards a place behind him. The old man at first thought that the dog was just playing, but when it kept running and whining, the old man followed it to the place.
Question 3. (i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?
Answer: The spirit of the dog asked the farmer to cut down the pine tree over its grave, and make from it a mortar for rice pastry and a mill for bean sauce. The farmer did so. Some time close to the New Year, the farmer wanted to make some rice pastry. When the rice was boiled, his wife put it into the mortar and he pounded the mass into dough. When the pastry was ready for baking, the whole mass turned into a heap of gold coins. Similarly, when beans were ground in the hand-mill, gold started dropping from it like rain and in a few minutes, the tub under the mill was filled with gold.
(ii) How did it help him next?
Answer: Informing the farmer about how his wicked neighbours had burned the hand-mill, the spirit of the dog asked him to take the ashes of the mill and sprinkle them on withered trees to make them bloom. The old man did so and found to his delight that the words of the spirit were indeed true. The bare cherry tree in his garden sprouted blossoms when a pinch of the ashes were sprinkled on it. Later, he was rewarded by the daimio for making an old withered cherry tree blossom once again.
Question 4. Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish his neighbour for the same act?
Answer: The farmer had the magical ashes. He made the old withered cherry tree blossom once again by sprinkling the ashes. So, the daimio rewarded the farmer for this. When his greedy neighbor heard about it, he took the ashes and when daimio was passing on the highway, he threw a handful of ashes over the tree. The tree did not blossom and wind blew the fine dust in the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife. That is why his neighbor punished for the same act.
Working with language
Question 1: Read the following conversation. Ravi: What are you doing? Mridu: I’m reading a book. Ravi: Who wrote it? Mridu: Ruskin Bond. Ravi: Where did you find it? Mridu: In the library.
Notice that ‘what’, ‘who’, ‘where’, are question words. Questions that require information begin with question words. Some other question words are ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘where’, ‘which’ and ‘how’. Remember that
Read the following paragraph and frame questions on the italicised phrases. Anil is in school. I am in school too. Anil is sitting in the left row. He is reading a book. Anil’s friend is sitting in the second row. He is sharpening his pencil. The teacher is writing on the blackboard. Children are writing in their copybooks. Some children are looking out of the window.
Question 2. Write appropriate question words in the blank spaces in the following dialogue.
NEHA: _________did you get this book? SHEELA: Yesterday morning. NEHA: _______ is your sister crying? SHEELA: Because she has lost her doll NEHA: _______room is this, yours or hers? SHEELA: It’s ours. NEHA: ________do you go to school? SHEELA: We walk to school. It is near by
Answer: NEHA: When did you get this book? SHEELA: Yesterday morning. NEHA: Why is your sister crying? SHEELA: Because she has lost her doll. NEHA: Whose room is this, yours or hers? SHEELA: It’s ours. NEHA: How do you go to school? SHEELA: We walk to school. It is nearby.
Question 3. Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box.
how, what, when, where, which
(i) My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know ________ to do and ________ to look for it.
(ii) There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can’t decide ________ one to buy.
(iii) You don’t know the way to my school. Ask the policeman ________ to get there.
(iv) You should decide soon ________ to start building your house.
(v) Do you know ________ to ride a bicycle? I don’t remember ________ and ________ I learnt it.
(vi) “You should know ________ to talk and ________ to keep your mouth shut,” the teacher advised Anil.
Answer: (i) My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know what to do and where to look for it.
(ii) There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can’t decide which one to buy.
(iii) You don’t know the way to my school. Ask the policeman how to get there.
(iv) You should decide soon when to start building your house.
(v) Do you know how to ride a bicycle? I don’t remember when and where I learnt it.
(vi) “You should know when to talk and where to keep your mouth shut,” the teacher advised Anil.
Question 4. Add im- or in- to each of the following words and use them in place of the italicised words in the sentences given below.
patient, proper, possible, sensitive, competent
(i) The project appears very difficult at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard. (ii) He lacks competence. That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year. (iii) “Don’t lose patience. Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me. (iv) That’s not a proper remark to make under the circumstances. (v) He appears to be without sensitivity. In fact, he is very emotional.
Answer: (i) The project appears impossible at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
(ii) He is incompetent . That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year.
(iii) “Don’t be impatient . Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me.
(iv) That’s an improper remark to make under the circumstances.
(v) He appears to be insensitive . In fact, he is very emotional.
Question 5. Read the following sentences.
It was a cold morning and stars still glowed in the sky. An old man was walking along the road. The words in italics are articles. ‘A’ and ‘an’ are indefinite articles and ‘the’ is the definite article . ‘A’ is used before a singular countable noun. ‘An’ is used before a word that begins with a vowel.
• a boy • an actor • a mango • an apple • a university • an hour
Use a, an or the in the blanks.
There was once ____ play which became very successful. ____ famous actor was acting in it. In _____ play his role was that of _____ aristocrat who had been imprisoned in ____ castle for twenty years. In ____ last act of the play someone would come on _____ stage with ___ letter which he would hand over to ______ prisoner. Even though the aristocrat was not expected to read _____ letter at each performance, he always insisted that ____ letter be written out from beginning to end.
Answer: There was once a play which became very successful. A famous actor was acting in it. In the play his role was that of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in a castle for twenty years. In the last act of the play someone would come on the stage with a letter which he would hand over to the prisoner. Even though the aristocrat was not expected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that the letter be written out from beginning to end.
Question 6. Encircle (underlined here) the correct article.
Nina was looking for (a / the) job. After many interviews she got (a / the) job she was looking for.
A : Would you like (a/an/the) apple or (a/an/the) banana?
B : I’d like (a/an/the) apple, please.
A : Take (a/an/the) red one in (a/an/the) fruit bowl.
You may take (a/an/the) orange also, if you like.
B : Which one?
A : (A/An/The) one beside (a/an/the) banana.
Speaking and Writing
Question 1. Do you remember an anecdote or a story about a greedy or jealous person and the unhappy result of his/her action? Narrate the story to others in your class.
Here is one for you to read.
Seeing an old man planting a fig tree, the king asked why he was doing this. The man replied that he might live to eat the fruit, and, even if he did not, his son would enjoy the figs.
“Well,” said the king, “if you do live to eat the fruit of this tree, please let me know.” The man promised to do so, and sure enough, before too long, the tree grew and bore fruit.
Packing some fine figs in a basket, the old man set out for the palace to meet the king.
The king accepted the gift and gave orders that the old man’s basket be filled with gold.
Now, next door to the old man, there lived a greedy old man jealous of his neighbour’s good fortune. He also packed some figs in a basket and took them to the palace in the hope of getting gold.
The king, on learning the man’s motive, ordered him to stand in the compound and had him pelted with figs.
The old man returned home and told his wife the sad story. She consoled him by saying, “You should be thankful that our neighbour did not grow coconuts.”
Answer : Do it yourself.
Question 2. Put each of the following in the correct order. Then use them appropriately to fill the blanks in the paragraph that follows. Use correct punctuation marks.
• English and Hindi/both/in/he writes
• and only/a few short stories/many books in English/ in Hindi
• is/my Hindi/than my English/much better
Ravi Kant is a writer, and __________________. Of course, he is much happier writing in English than in Hindi. He has written ____________________________________. I find his books a little hard to understand. __________________.
Answer : Ravi Kant is a writer, and he writes both in English and Hindi . Of course, he is much happier writing in English than in Hindi. He has written many books in English and only a few short stories in Hindi . I find his books a little hard to understand. My Hindi is much better than my English .
Question 3. Are you fond of reading stories? Did you read one last month? If not, read one or two and then write a paragraph about the story. Use the following hints.
• title of the story • name of author • how many characters • which one you liked • some details of the story • main point(s) as you understand it
Tell your friends why they should also read it.
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6th - 10th , active and passive voice, determiners, past tense and past perfect tense, 34.7k plays, conjunctions, 4th - 7th , 14.6k plays, 4th - 5th , context clues, reading comprehension practice.
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How did the covetous old couple react to the good old man's request for the ashes of the mill?
They happily gave away the ashes.
They scolded him as if the good old man was a thief.
What did the old couple do with the ashes?
They sprinkled the ashes on his favourite bare cherry tree, causing it to blossom.
They sprinkled the ashes on their house and it turned into a mansion.
Who is a daimio?
It is a word for a cruel husband in Japan.
A wealthy landlord of Japan in ancient times.
What was the custom in those days when the daimio's procession would pass by?
to shut up all the high windows, so as not to be disrespectful by looking down upon the lord
to shut up all the doors and windows and not look at the lord at all
Why was the daimio delighted?
The daimio was delighted because the old man caused the old withered trees on his way to blossom
The daimio was delighted as he had never seen a full bloomed cherry tree
What did the daimio reward the old man with?
gold coins and named a fountain after him
silk robes, sponge-cake, fans and other rewards
What did the covetous old man's sprinkling of ashes result in?
It did not result in blossoming cherry trees instead it blew with wind and caused the daimio to sneeze and choke
It caused the cherry trees to bloom and spread the beautiful fragrance around
What finally was the fate of the covetous old man?
He was beaten up badly and went away home with a limp.
He was left for dead after the beating and died in the mud.
What did the dog first lead the farmer to ?
To another dog
To a pile of gold
To a classroom
To the king's palace
What was the dog's name ?
What was the dog's cushion made of ?
The couple fed him tidbits of fish with their own ________
What is the genre of the story ?
Japanese folktale
Chinese poem
English sonet
What did the good old couple make for new year ?
Rice pastry and bean sauce
Chocolate cake
What was the strong man shouting in the diamio's procession ?
Get down on your knees !
Don't shout
Start dancing !
Sing! Sing !
What is the word in the story for 'bare and dry' ?
The old farmer is a ______ man.
The dog took the old man to a place and began____ it.
The spirit of the dog asked him to cut down the _____ tree.
The spirit of the dog asked him to take the ashes of the mill and sprinkle them in the ______ trees.
After sprinkling the ashes of the mill trees would ____ again.
Diamio______ the farmer.
Gave gift to
Diamio _______ the neighbour for the same act.
Which news filled the village?
Tree turned into a man when a pinch of ashes was sprinkled on it
Blooming of the cherry tree on sprinkling a pinch of ashes on it
Drying up of the cherry tree on sprinkling a pinch of ashes on it
Tree turned into a small plant when a pinch of ashes was sprinkled on it
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The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom. A Japanese story — underscores values such as honesty, compassion, diligence, etc. with a hint of magical realism. The spirit of the dog is the old couple's make-believe determination to get past personal setbacks and begin anew. Activity II under 'Working with Language' is about the use of articles.
The chapter "The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom" showcases the power of love. It is about a dog which is taken care of by an old couple. They love it as if it were their own child. The dog brings riches to the family, which makes the neighbours jealous. Things become tragic when the dog is killed by the neighbours due to their greed and ...
NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English The Ashes that made Trees Bloom (Prose) Comprehension Check. Question 1: Why did the neighbours kill the dog? Solution: The neigbours killed the dog in anger. They have expected the dog to help them get a treasure, but the dog had rather taken them to a foul smelling dead kitten. Question 2: Mark the right item.
Essays; The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom. The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom : In the old days of the daimios, there lived an old couple whose only pet was a little dog. Having no children, they loved it as though it were a baby. The old dame made it a cushion of blue crape and at mealtime Muko—for that was its name—would sit on it as snug as ...
e mill made from the pine tree. "Take the ashes of the mill, sprinkle them on the withered trees, and they will bloo. again," said the dog-spirit. The old man awoke and went at once to his wicked neighbour's house, where he found the miserable old pair sitting at the edge of their square fireplace, in the middle of.
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Analysis. A couple had a dog they loved very much. The old man went to work, and his dog, Muko, followed him every day. One day, Muko started to push the old man. On following the dog, he found a pile of gold. The couple became rich, bought lands, and helped their neighbors. A wicked man tried to bribe the dog to ...
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Part 1 Summary of the Lesson. In the 19th century in Japan, there lived an old couple. They had a pet dog they loved it as if it were their baby. It was provided with a cushion and was fed lovingly by the couple. The old man was a rice farmer and was followed by his pet to the fields.
The good old man had another dream. The spirit of their pet dog told him to take the ashes of the mill and spread it on the withered pine trees. He assured him that they would bloom again. The old man brought some ashes of mill. He spread a pinch of it on the cherry tree. The tree was covered with blossoms.
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom: 2. About William Elliot Griffis : 3. Introduction to "Ashes That Made Trees Bloom" 4. Paragraphs 1 and 2: 5. Paragraphs 3 and 4: 6. Paragraphs 5-7: 7. Paragraphs 8 and 9: 8. Paragraphs 10 and 11: 9. Paragraphs 12-14: 10. Paragraphs 15 and 16: 11. Paragraphs 17-19: 12. Paragraphs 20 and 21: 13. Paragraphs 22 and ...
When the daimio (respected landowner) passed through the road, the kind older man poured the ashes into the tree base, and it bloomed. The daimio stopped his car and came after seeing the wonder. He gifted the older man and invited him to his castle. When the envious man heard of this, he also went to the roadside and climber the tree.
The Ashes That Made The Trees Bloom. 16. Explanation of the lesson "The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom". Theory: The plot revolves around an old, childless couple who lived during the daimios era in Japan. The author refers to this time as the 'good old days' since it was Japan's critical period. The first and second Industrial Revolutions ...
The elderly farmer is the main character in the well-known Japanese folktale "The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom." He is a kind guy, but he is broke and penniless. He shared a home with his spouse and dog, Muko. The old cherished muko, as if he is their human child. They fed him rice and fish with their own chopsticks.
Class 7 Chapter 4 The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary, Explanation along with Word Meaning and Question Answers from Honeycomb book. The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom - Class 7 English Honeycomb book Lesson 4-Detailed explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words.Also, the explanation is followed by a Summary of the lesson.
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary in English. Part I. In the 19th century Japan there lived an old couple. Their only companion was a little pet dog named Muko. They loved it as if it were their baby. They gave it pieces of fish and boiled rice to eat. Muko also loved its noble master.
The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom - Question: Find a word from the given lines that means 'flower'. Blossom. Bloom. Sprouted. Sprinkled. The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom - Answer: 2. Bloom. The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom: 7th CBSE English Ch 4 - Short/Long Answers, Multiple Choice Questions from The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom.
Important Questions and Answers. 1: How did the kind old couple treat their dog? Answer: The old couple treated the dog as their own child. The old farmer had created a cushion made of blue crepe for the dog. During the meals they used to feed the dog plenty of rice and tidbits of fish from their own chopstick.
Answer: When he threw handful of ashes over him, the wind below the dust in the nose and eyes of the landward. 51. What happened the greedy man at the end of the story? Answer: He had died in the mud. 52. Name the narrator of the story "The Ashes that made Trees Bloom". Answer: William Elliot Griffis.
Ans. The dog's spirit asked the farmer in his dream to take the ashes of the mill and spread it on a withered tree to make it green at once. The farmer scattered the ash on the cherry tree when the landlord passed along the road. The rich landlord gave him many rewards.
Answer. The farmer had the magical ashes. He made the old withered cherry tree blossom once again by sprinkling the ashes. So, the daimio rewarded the farmer for this.When his greedy neighbour heard about it, he took the ashes and when daimio was passing on the highway, he threw a handful of ashes over the tree.
The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom. A Japanese story — underscores values such as honesty, compassion, diligence, etc. with a hint of magical realism. The spirit of the dog is the old couple's make-believe determination to get past personal setbacks and begin anew. Activity II under 'Working with Language' is about the use of articles.
We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest. The Dear Departed Part 2 Question and Answers
Answer: (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbors. (iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make. (a) rice pastry and bean sauce. (b) magic ash to win rewards. (c) a pile of gold. Answer: (c) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make a pile of gold.
The daimio was delighted because the old man caused the old withered trees on his way to blossom. The daimio was delighted as he had never seen a full bloomed cherry tree. What did the covetous old man's sprinkling of ashes result in? It did not result in blossoming cherry trees instead it blew with wind and caused the daimio to sneeze and ...
RALEIGH, N.C. — It looked like something a kindergartner might use in an art project. So ordinary looking that, when Jack Wang was presenting it once, someone nearly set a drink down on it by ...