The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom – NCERT Solutions

Q. Why did the neighbours kill the dog?

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.

Q. Mark the right item.

1. The old farmer and his wife loved the dog.
   1. because it helped them in their day-to-day work.
   2. as if it was their own baby.
   3. as they were kind to all living beings.
2. When the old couple became rich, they
   1. gave the dog better food.
   2. invited their greedy neighbours to a feast.
   3. lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
3. The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make
   1. rice pastry and bean sauce.
   2. magic ash to win rewards.
   3. a pile of gold.

Answer

1. as if it was their own baby.
2. lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
3. a pile of gold.

Q. 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 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.

Q. What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold?

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.

Q. How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?

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.

Q. How did it help him next?

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.

Q. Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish his neighbour for the same act?

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.

Q. 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. Which row is he sitting in?
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?

Q. Write appropriate question words in the blank spaces in the following dialogue.

1. NEHA: ______________ did you get this book?
   SHEELA: Yesterday morning.
2. NEHA: ______________ is your sister crying?
   SHEELA: Because she has lost her doll.
3. NEHA: ______________ room is this, yours or hers?
   SHEELA: It’s ours.
4. NEHA: ______________ do you go to school?
   SHEELA: We walk to school. It is nearby.

Answer

1. When
2. Why
3. Whose
4. How

Q. 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; where; how
6. when; where

Q. 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

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. The project appears to be impossible at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
2. He is incompetent. That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year.
3. “Don’t be impatient. Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me.
4. That’s an improper remark to make under the circumstances.
5. He appears to be insensitive. In fact, he is very emotional.

Q. Use a, an or the in the blanks. There was once

(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.

Answer

1. a
2. A
3. the
4. an
5. a
6. the
7. the
8. the
9. a
10. the
11. the
12. the
13. the.

Q. Encircle the correct article.

1. Nina was looking for (a/ the) job.
2. After many interviews she got (a/ the) job she was looking for.
3. Would you like (a/an/the) apple or (a/an/the) banana?
4. I’d like (a/an/the) apple, please.
5. Take (a/an/the) red one in (a/an/the) fruit bowl. You may take (a/an/the) orange also, if you like.
6. (A/An/the) one beside (a/an/the) banana.

Answer

1. a
2. the
3. an; a
4. an
5. the; the; an
6. the; the