Gujarat Board GSEB Class 7 English Textbook Solutions Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.

Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom

GSEB Class 7 English The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Text Book Questions and Answers

Comprehension Check-I

Question 1.
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.

Mark the right item :

Question 1.
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:
as if it was their own baby.

Question 2.
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:
lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.

Question 3.
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:
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 loved his dog as if it was his own baby. He fed it with fish with his own chopsticks and all the boiled rice it wanted. He was patient and kind to everything that had life and often dug 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:
The dog came running to the farmer, putting its paws against his legs and motioning with its head to some spot behind. He thought it was only playing and did not mind it. However, the dog kept on whining and running to and fro for some minutes. Then the farmer followed it a few yards to a place where it began scratching the ground. The farmer thought there was a bone or a bit of fish buried there and therefore, struck his hoe in the earth. However, what he found was a pile of gold.

Question 3.
(i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?
(ii) How did it help him next?
Answer:
(i)
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. Sometime 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)
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 daimio rewarded the farmer for making an old withered cherry tree blossom once again. Like the farmer, his greedy neighbour also sprinkled ashes over a withered cherry tree. However, the result this time was different. The tree did not blossom, while the wind blew the dust into the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife. This was the reason why the greedy neighbour was punished.

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

• ‘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.
Answer:
(1) Where is Anil?
(2) In which row is Anil sitting?
(3) What is he doing?
(4) Where is Anil’s friend sitting?
(5) What is his friend doing?
(6) Who is writing on the blackboard?
(7) What are some children doing?

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 nearby.
Answer:
When, Why, Whose, How

Question 3.
Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box:
how what when where which
1. My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know ……………… to do and ………………….. to look for it.
2. There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can’t decide ……………………… one to buy.
3. You don’t know the way to my school. Ask the policeman ……………………………. to get there.
4. You should decide soon ……………………………. to start building your house.
5. Do you know …………………………… to ride a bicycle? I don’t remember ………………………… and ………………………… I learnt it.
6. “You should know …………………….. to talk and …………………………. to keep your mouth shut,” the teacher advised Anil.
Answer:
1. what, where
2. which
3. how
4. when
5. how, when, where
6. when, when

Question 4.
Add im- or into each of the following words and use them in place of the italicised words in the sentences given below: patient proper possible sensitive competent
1. The project appears very difficult at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
2. He lacks competence. That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year.
3. “Don’t lose patience. Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me.
4. That’s not a proper remark to make under the circumstances.
5. He appears to be without sensitivity. In fact, he is very emotional.
Answer:
1. impossible
2. incompetent
3. be impatient
4. an improper
5. insensitive

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.
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:
a, A, the, an, a, the, the the, a the the, the the

Question 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 (alan/the) banana?
B: I’d like (a/an/the) apple, please.
A: Take (a/an/the) redone 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, a B. ………………
A. The, the

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:

The Greedy Man

Once upon a time in Riau, lived a pair of husband and wife. They were very poor. The wife was very diligent, while the husband was ‘very lazy. He just slept and slept every day. He s did not want to help his wife to earn a living. ? The wife was helpless, she often prayed to God s to help her husband.

One night the husband had a dream. In his dream, an old man appeared before him. He told the husband to take his sampan and go to the river. “Go to the middle of the river and wait until a rope appears from the river. Take the rope slowly, and then you will find? a golden chain. You can cut and take it, buts don’t take a very long piece of the chain,” said the old man. The husband then woke up from s his dream.

On the next day, the husband took his sampan and went to the river. He wanted to do follow the old man’s advice. “Where are you going?” asked the wife. She was so surprised to see her husband was busy preparing the sampan. “I want to go fishing, Honey. See you later !’’ the husband didn’t want to tell his wife s about his dream. He knew his wife would think he was crazy by following up a dream.

After the husband arrived in the river, he s rowed his sampan until he reached the middle? of the river. He then looked around the water s surface very carefully. Suddenly a rope appeared from the river. “The old man was right!” said S the husband to himself.

He then slowly pulled the rope and at the end of the rope, he saw a golden chain! The chain was sparkling and glowing. It was made from pure gold. “Wow! ? It’s really made of gold. I’m rich. I’m rich,” s the husband said happily. He kept pulling the? chain. He forgot the old man’s warning that he s should not take a very long piece of the chain. ? The poor man became greedy. He wanted to Stake the whole golden chain without cutting off just a sizeable piece.

While he was busy pulling out the golden chain, a bird came to him. It talked, “Remember the old man’s warning. Take only a moderate length of the golden chain.” But the poor man ignored the bird and kept on pulling out the chain. Before long, his sampan was filled with the coiling gold chain. It was so full that finally, the sampan could not hold the weight anymore. The sampan started to drown. The golden chain was sinking and went to the bottom of the river creating a big wave in the river. The wave almost swallowed the poor man. He was so panicked. He swam as fast as possible to the river bank.

When he arrived on the bank, he felt sorry for himself. He blamed himself for being a greedy man. But it was already too late. Then at last he realized that it was a lesson for him to work hard if he wanted to earn money.

Question 2.
Put each of the following in the correct order. Then use them appropriately to fill in 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 ……….(1)………… Of course, he is much happier writing in English than in Hindi. He has written ……………….. (2)……….. I find his books a little hard to understand ……………………(3)……………………
Answer:
(1) he writes both in English and Hindi
(2) many books in English and only a few short stories in Hindi
(3) 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 source 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.
Answer:
Title of the story: The Golden Touch
Name of author: Unknown
Source: Greek Mythology
How many characters: Three
Which one you liked: God of wine, Dionysus
Some details of the story:
-A good deed done by King Midas
-Got blessings of God of wine, Dionysus
-Everything he touched would turn into gold
-Got extremely happy
– Got hungry and touched food
– Food turned into gold
– Touched his daughter and she also turned into gold
– Realisation
Moral of the story: Greed is the root of all the misery.

The Golden Touch

There was once a king named Midas who did a good deed for a Satyr and was granted a wish by the God of wine, Dionysus. For his wish, Midas asked that whatever he touched would turn to gold. Although Dionysus tried to dissuade him, Midas insisted that the wish was an excellent one, and it was granted! Excitedly, Midas went about touching all sorts of things, turning them into gold.

Soon Midas became hungry. He picked up a piece of food, but he couldn’t eat it, for it had turned to gold in his hand! “I’ll starve,” moaned Midas, “Perhaps this was not such a good wish after all!” Midas’ beloved daughter, seeing his dismay, threw her arms about him to comfort him, and, she too turned to gold! “The golden touch is no blessing,” cried Midas. He went to the river and wept. The sand of that river turned as yellow as “fool’s gold” for it is there, they say, that King Midas washed away the curse of the golden touch with his own tears.

GSEB Class 7 English The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Additional Important Questions and Answers

Select the most appropriate options: as answers and complete the following sentences:

Questions 1.
The old couple loved their pet as if ………………….. .
A. it was not a dog.
B. it were their own baby.
C. it were a gift from God.
D. it were an alien.
Answer:
B. it were their own baby.

Question 2.
‘O Tento Sama’ is the expression for a the …………………… in Japan.
A. dog
B. moon
C. sun
D. child
Answer:
C. sun

Question 3.
The kind old man often turned a sod to …………….. .
A. sow seeds.
B. fertilize it.
C. give food to the birds.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’.
Answer:
C. give food to the birds.

Question 4.
The dog revealed a pile of gold to the old man by ……………………. .
A. keeping on whining.
B. running to and fro.
C. keeping on barking.
D. scratching the ground.
Answer:
D. scratching the ground.

Question 5.
The covetous old couple found …………………… after digging the place where the dog had led them.
A. a dead kitten
B. a pile of gold coins
C. a golden mortar
D. a hand-mill
Answer:
A. a dead kitten

Question 6.
The kind old couple paid homage to their beloved pet by ………………………. .
A. putting fresh flowers.
B. laying a tray of food.
C. burning some costly sticks of incense.
D. All of these three.
Answer:
D. All of these three.

Question 7.
The kind old man made a mortar out of …………………………. .
A. the trunk of a pine tree.
B. gold plate.
C. soil.
D. rice dough.
Answer:
A. the trunk of a pine tree.

Question 8.
What happened when the greedy neighbouring couple tried to get gold from the mortar and magic mill?
A. They got tasty pastry and sauce.
B. The pastry and sauce turned into foul mass of worms.
C. The mortar broke.
D. The mm turned into magic ash.
Answer:
B. The pastry and sauce turned into foul mass of worms.

Question 9.
In the second dream, the spirit of the dog asked the kind old man to ………….. .
A. take the ashes of the mill from the wicked neighbour.
B. sprinkle the ashes on the withered trees.
C. recreate the mortar and the mill.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B.
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B.

Question 10.
What miracle could the magic ash do?
A. It could make a bare tree bloom again.
B. It could make a dead person or animal alive.
C. It could produce gold coins If sprinkled on rice.
D. None of these three.
Answer:
A. It could make a bare tree bloom again.

Question 11.
What was the custom when their lord passed by in the days of the daimios?
A. The loyal people shut up their hIgh windows.
B. The people along the road lay down on the ground face downward.
C. They looked down his lordship.
D. Both A and ‘B’.
Answer:
D. Both A and ‘B’.

Question 12.
What happened when the wicked man threw a handful of ashes over the tree?
A. The tree bloomed up.
B. The ash blew Into his own face.
C. The ash blew into the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife.
D. Both B and ‘C’.
Answer:
C. The ash blew into the noses and eyes of the daimio and his wife.

Say whether the following sentences are True or False:

Question 1.
The kind couple fed the pet with titbits of fish.
Answer:
True

Question 2.
The words ‘good souls’ are used for the covetous neighbouring couple.
Answer:
False

Question 3.
The dog did not eat or move as it was greatly afraid of the cruel pair.
Answer:
True

Question 4.
The carcass of the dog was buried under a cherry tree.
Answer:
False

Question 5.
The wicked neighbour borrowed the mortar and magic mill to make magic ashes.
Answer:
False

Question 6.
In the end, the wicked old man died in the mud.
Answer:
True

Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each:

Question 1.
How did the kind old couple treat their dog?
Answer:
The kind old couple treated the dog as their own child. The farmer’s wife had created a cushion made of blue crepe for the dog. During the meals, they used to feed the dog plenty of rice and titbits of fish from their own chopstick.

Question 2.
Describe the change the cherry tree underwent after the kind old man poured a pinch of ash over it.
Answer:
It was winter season and the cherry tree in the old couple’s garden was bare. The old man sprinkled a pinch of ashes and blossoms sprouted. Pink flowers came on the tree and their fragrance filled the air.

Question 3.
What happened when the wicked old farmer sprinkled ash over the cherry tree?
Answer:
When the wicked old farmer sprinkled the ash over the cherry tree it didn’t bring in any change on it. The fine particles of the ash fell into the eyes of daimyo and his wife. They began to cough and sneeze. All the lavishness of the procession was spoiled.

Answer the following questions In four to five sentences each:

Question 1.
Explain three ways in which the dug helped his master.
OR
How did the dog repay his master?
Answer:
The dog when he was alive guided his master to a heap of gold. After his death, he appeared in a dream and 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 gold dripping out from every drop of the sauce.

After the mortar and the mill had been burnt to ashes by the wicked neighbours, the dog again appeared in the farmer’s dream and asked the master to collect the ashes of the mortar and the mill and sprinkle them over the withered trees. The withered trees sprouted Into blossom. Being greatly pleased by the magic, they were rewarded with presents of silk robes, sponge- cake, fans and other things by the daimyo.

Question 2.
The wicked farmer wanted to be rich like his neighbour. What happened every time when he tried to do so?
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 dalmio’s procession and was killed by the dalmlo’s man as a punishment.

Read the following passages and answer the questions given below them:

Question 1.
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.
Questions:
(1) How did the dog beckon the old man?
Answer:
The dog put his paws against his legs and motioned with his head to some spot behind.

(2) Why was the dog making gestures?
Answer:
The dog was making gestures to lead the old man to the spot where the gold was buried.

(3) What did the dog do when the old man ignored his gestures at first?
Answer:
When the old mem ignored his gestures at first, the dog started whining and running to and fro for some minutes.

(4) What had the old man actually expected to find from the place indicated by the dog?
Answer:
The old man had actually expected to find a buried bone or bit of fish from the place indicated by the dog.

Question 2.
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 a treasure for them. But the dog, being afraid of the cruel pair, would neither eat nor move.
Questions :
(1) Why are the old couple called ‘good souls’ here?
Answer:
The old couple are called ‘good souls’ here because from the gold they had found, they made a feast for their friends and they gave plentifully to their poor neighbours. They did not use the entire gold for their selfish purposes.

(2) How much did the kind old couple fondle the dog?
Answer:
The kind old couple fondled the dog till the dog got nearly suffocated with kindness.

(3) ’They had always kicked and scolded all dogs whenever any passed their house. What kind of their nature does this sentence suggest?
Answer:
‘They had always kicked and scolded all dogs whenever any passed their house’. This sentence suggests that they were insensitive and cruel.

(4) Pick out the words with similar meanings from the passage : (i) pampered (ii) tasty eatables
Answer:
(i) pampered = petted
(ii) tasty eatables = dainties

Question 3.
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 daimyo’s palanquin drew near, the old man, taking a pinch of ashes from his basket, scattered it over the tree. S’ In a moment it burst into blossom.

S’ The delighted daimyo ordered the train to be stopped and got out to see the wonder. S; Calling the old man to him, he thanked him s and ordered presents of silk robes, sponge- cake, fans and other rewards to be given him. He even invited him to his castle.
Questions:
(1) Why did the leader of the van avoid getting angry with the aged man up in S’ the tree?
Answer:
The leader of the van avoid getting angry with the aged man up in the trees because he saw that he was an old fellow – not harmful to the daimyo.

(2) What did the aged man up in the tree do when the daimyo’s palanquin drew near?
Answer:
The aged man up in the tree took a pinch of ashes from his basket and scattered s it over the tree when the daimyo’s palanquin drew near.

(3) How was the old man rewarded?
Answer:
The pleased daimyo thanked the old! man and ordered presents of silk robes, sponge-cake, fans and other rewards to be given to him. He even invited the old man to his castle.

(4) Pick out the words with similar meanings from the passage :
(i) sprinkled
(ii) saw
Answer:
(i) sprinkled = scattered
(ii) saw = caught sight of

Vocabulary

Replace the underlined words selecting the most appropriate options from the brackets:

(1) I didn’t do it oil purpose – it was an accident, (emotionally, intentionally, casually)
(2) I need one or two people to help me set up the equipment. (arrange, prepare, fill up)
(3) My cat turns up his nose at the stale food. (expresses strong dislike, looks with (, surprise, leaves incomplete)
(4) The well-dressed businessman looked down on the kid wearing a T-shirt in the elevator.(looked bending down, regarded as inferior, looked with dislike)
Answer:
(1) I didn’t do it intentionally – It was an accident.
(2) I need one or two people to help me arrange the equipment.
(3) My cat expresses strong dislike at the stale food.
(4) The well-dressed businessman regarded as inferior the kid wearing a T-shirt in the elevator.

Choose the correct words from the brackets and complete the following passages:

Question 1.
(mortar. appeared, grate, sauce, spirit, pastry)
That night the ……………………… of the dog …………………….. to him In a dream and said, “Cut down the pine tree over my …………………………….. and make from It a ………………………….. for your rice and a mile for your bean ………………….. .”
Answer:
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.”

Question 2.
(loyal, Impertinence, d-zimio.s, lordship, custom, pasted)
Now, in the days of the ……………………., It was the ……………………, when their lord passed by. for all the …………………… people to shut up their high windows. They even ………………………. them fast with a slip of paper, so as not to commit the ………………………… of looking down on his …………………….. .
Answer:
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.

Grammar

Choose the correct Article(s), Conjunction(s) and Preposition(s) and Complete aiplete the following passage:

Question 1.
But …………………….. the greedy neighbour heard ………………………… It, he took some of …………………………. magic ashes
went out on the highway. There he waited …………………….. a daimIos train came …………………… and, instead of kneeling down like the crowd, he climbed a withered cherry tree.
Answer:
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 daIrnios train came along and, Instead of kneeling down like the crowd, he climbed a withered cherry tree.

Question 2.
The good old man humbly asked ………………………. the ashes …………………… the covetous couple turned ……………………. their noses at him ……………………. scolded him …………………… he were a thief, they let him fill his …………………… basket ……………………………. the ashes.
Answer:
The good old man humbly asked for the ashes. Though the covetous couple turned up their noses at him and scolded him as if lie were a thief, they let him fill his basket with the ashes.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of verbs given in the brackets and complete the texts:

Question 1.
Then they dragged him out of doors, …………….1……….. (take) a spade and hoe with them. No sooner ……..2…….. the dog …………2……. (get) near a pine tree growing in the garden than he began …………..3………… (paw) and scratch the ground.
Answer:
1. taking
2. had, got
3. to paw

Question 2.
The old man ……………….1………………. (awake) and went at once to his wicked neighbour’s house, where he …………..2………. (find) the miserable old pair …………3………. (sit) at the edge of their square fireplace, in the middle of the floor, smoking and spinning.
Answer:
1. awoke
2. found
3. sitting

Change the voice of the following :

(1) The kind people fed the pet with titbits of fish.
(2) The dumb creature loved its protectors like a being with a soul.
(3) They coaxed the dog into their garden.
(4) The old man kicked and beat him to death.
(5) The old man chopped down the tree.
(6) Get down on your knees.
(7) They were baking pastry at that time.
Answer:
(1) The pet was fed with titbits of fish by the kind people.
(2) Its protectors were loved by the dumb creature like a being with a soul.
(3) The dog was coaxed into their garden by them.
(4) He was kicked and beaten to death by the old man.
(5) The tree was chopped down by the old man.
(6) You are ordered to get down on your knees.
(7) Pastry was being baked by them at that time.

Rewrite as directed :

(1) Having no children, they loved the dog very much. (Turn into Complex.)
(2) No sooner had the dog got near the pine tree than he began to scratch the ground. (Use ‘As soon as’.)
(3) There was nothing but a dead kitten, (Turn into Affirmative.)
(4) When New Year’s time drew near, he wished to make some rice pastry, s (Turn into Simple.)
(5) They chopped the mill into pieces to use it as firewood. (Use ‘so that’.)
(6) Both he and his wife lived to a green old age. (Use ‘not only … but also.)
(7) Though the covetous people scolded him, they let him fill his basket with ashes, (Use ‘but’.)
Answer:
(1) Since they had no children, they loved the dog very much.
(2) As soon as the dog had got near the pine tree, he began to scratch the ground.
(3) There was only a dead kitten.
(4) With the New Year drawing near, he wished to make some rice pastry.
(5) They chopped the mill into pieces so that they could use it as firewood.
(6) Not only he but his wife also lived to s a green old age.
(7) The covetous people scolded him, but they let him fill his basket with ashes.

Additional Writing
Write a paragraph on ‘Dog’ in about 150 words :
Dog is a pet animal and has been proved a very useful animal for the humankind. The dog is known for its unwavering loyalty to its master. It is found all over the world in various varieties. It is very watchful animal and performs its duties very faithfully. It has a sharp mind and bright eyes. It is an omnivorous animal which can eat both diet related to the plant and animal origin. It has very sharp teeth in order to tear and eat meat even bones.

A dog can be easily controlled and taught anything through proper training. According to the varieties of dogs, some of them have fur on their whole bodies or only on their neck. Generally, they have curved and s hairy tails. They differ in their colour, size and weight. It is a very faithful animal and never let down its owner. It guards the house; of the owner very watchfully from thieves 24 hours a day. However, become very dangerous whenever goes mad. Nowadays, anti-rabies vaccinations prevent this threat.

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary in English

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary:
The story “The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom”, written by William Elliot Griffis, is based on a Japanese tale. It is about an honest and hardworking couple who live with their pet dog, Muko.

Part I

In the good, old days there lived an honest man with his wife, who had a favourite dog, which they used to feed with fish and titbits from their own kitchen. One day, as the old folks went out to work in their garden, the dog went with them and began playing about. All of a sudden, the dog stopped short, and began to bark, “Bow, wow, wow!” wagging his tail violently.

The old people thought that there must be something nice to eat under the ground. so they brought a spade and began digging. when. lo and behold I a pile of gold was gleaming underneath. So they gathered the treasure together. and, after giving aims to the poor, bought themselves a piece of land. Now, in the next house there dwelt a covetous old couple, who, when they heard what had happened.

came and borrowed the dog, and, having taken him home, prepared a great feast for him, and said, “If you please, Mr. Dog, we should be much obliged to you if you would show us a place with plenty of money in it.” The dog, however, who up to- that time had received nothing but cuffs and kicks from his hosts, would not eat any of the dainties which they set before him; so the old people began to get cross, and putting a rope round the dog’s neck, led him out into the garden. But it was all in vain; let them lead him where they might, not a sound would the dog utter: he had no “bow-wow” for them.

At last, however, the dog stopped at a certain spot, and began to sniff; so, thinking that this must surely be the lucky place, they dug, and found nothing but the decaying body of a dead kitten, over which they had to hold their noses. Furious at being disappointed, the wicked old couple seized the dog, and killed him. When the good old man saw that the dog, whom he had lent, did not come home, he went next door to ask what had become of him; and the wicked old man answered that he had killed the dog, and buried him at the root of a pine tree.

So the good old fellow, with a heavy heart, went to the spot at night. He set up, just as in a tomb, a few bamboo tubes around the burial mound. He put fresh flowers in the bamboo tubes. He also laid a cup of water and a tray of food there. Later, he burned very costly incense sticks as well.

He greatly mourned the death of his pet and shed copious tears over its grave. But there was more good luck in store yet for the old people-the reward of their honesty and virtue. That night, when the good old man was fast asleep in bed, the dog appeared to him and after thanking him for all his kindness, said-“Cause the pine tree, under which I am buried, to be cut down and made into a mortar, and use it, thinking of it as if it were myself.”

The old man did as the dog had told him to do, and made a mortar out of the wood of the pine tree; but when he ground the rice and made it into dough, suddenly the whole mass turned into gold coins. When the old woman took out the beans to fill in the mill, gold dropped like rain. When the wicked old couple saw this, they came to borrow the mortar; but no sooner did they try to use it, them all their rice was turned into filth; so, in a fit of rage, they broke up the mortar and burnt it. But the good old man, little suspecting that his precious mortar had been broken and burnt, wondered why his neighbours did not bring it back to him.

Part II
One night the dog appeared to him again in a dream, and told him what had happened, adding that if he would take the ashes of the burnt mortar and sprinkle them on withered trees, the trees would revive, and suddenly put out flowers. After saying this, the dog in the dream vanished and the old man who heard for the first time of the loss of his mortar, ran off weeping to the neighbour’s house, and begged them, at any rate, to give him back the ashes of his treasure.

Having obtained the ashes, he returned home and made a trial of their virtues upon a withered cherry tree, which, upon being touched by the ashes, immediately began to sprout and blossom. The news of this miracle spread through the village and everyone came to know about the wonder. The greedy couple next door also heard about it.

They collected the remaining ash and tried to put into flowers the barren trees. Needless to say that their efforts went in vain. During this time, the kind old man heard that his landlord was about to pass through a nearby street. He climbed upon a tree with the ashes. As soon as the landlord’s entourage arrived, the old man made the barren tree bloom by sprinkling the ashes.

This was a time when the landlords were very powerful and no one even dared to stand on his feet when they pass by, let alone climbing atop a tree. However, the old man’s good intentions paid off and he received valuable rewards from the landlord. As soon as the greedy neighbour came to know of this incident, he also set out with a handful of ash and perched himself atop a tree while the landlord was about to pass under it. Instead of blossoming the tree, the ashes flew into the landlord’s eyes and mouth, blinding and choking him.

When the landlord’s retainers saw this. they seized We old man and beat him to death. Thus, the greed and envy of the wicked man led him to a miserable death, whereas the kind friend of the dog, together with his wife, lived In peace and plenty. They lived for many years and enjoyed health and prosperity throughout.