CBSE Class 7 English Chapter 4: The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 7 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English, Chapter 4, "The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom." The chapter narrates a heartwarming story about an old, kind farmer and his pet dog, Muko, who brings him good fortune. The solutions cover comprehension checks and text-based questions, explaining the farmer's kindness, the dog's role in finding treasure, the magical properties of the ashes, and the contrasting fates of the kind farmer and his greedy neighbours. These solutions are designed to help students understand the narrative, its moral lessons about kindness and greed, and prepare effectively for their exams by clarifying complex plot points and character motivations.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 7
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	4- The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 4, "The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom," focuses on a folktale about a kind farmer and his dog. The solutions address questions related to the farmer's compassion, the dog's discovery of gold, and the magical ashes that can revive dead trees. It contrasts the farmer's good fortune with the misfortune of his greedy neighbours, highlighting the story's moral themes. The exercises help students analyze the plot and characters.

Learning outcomes

Understand the story of the kind farmer and his magical dog.
Identify acts of kindness and greed in the narrative.
Explain the significance of the magical ashes.
Analyze the consequences of the farmer's and his neighbour's actions.
Improve reading comprehension skills through text-based questions.

Topics covered

Paper topics

The story of the kind farmer and his dog
Acts of kindness and their rewards
Consequences of greed
Magical elements in folklore
Character analysis: The farmer and his neighbours
Understanding narrative structure
Reading comprehension
Vocabulary from the chapter

Important topics

The farmer's kindness and the dog's loyalty
The discovery of gold and its impact
The magical ashes and their use
The contrast between the farmer and his neighbours
Moral lessons of the story

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Questions and Solutions

Comprehension Check - Question 1

Why did the neighbours kill the dog?

Solution: The neighbours killed the dog because they were hoping it would lead them to treasure, just as it had for the old farmer. When they coaxed the dog into their garden and it dug under a pine tree, they were extremely disappointed and angry to find only a dead kitten. In their fury, they beat the dog to death and threw its body into the hole.

Comprehension Check - Question 2 (i)

Mark the right item. 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.

Solution: The correct option is (b) as if it was their own baby. The text states that having no children, they loved the dog as though it were their own child, feeding it well and treating it with great affection.

Comprehension Check - Question 2 (ii)

Mark the right item. When the old couple became rich, they

(a) gave the dog better food.

(b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast.

Solution: The correct option is (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours. After finding the gold, the couple used their wealth to live comfortably and generously helped those less fortunate, demonstrating their good nature.

Comprehension Check - Question 2 (iii)

Mark the right item. The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make

(a) rice pastry and bean sauce.

(b) magic ash to win rewards.

Solution: The correct option is (a) rice pastry and bean sauce. The greedy neighbours borrowed the mill and mortar from the kind farmer, intending to use them for making everyday items, not for any magical purpose related to gold or ash.

Working with the Text - Question 1

The old farmer is a kind person. What evidence of his kindness do you find in the first two paragraphs.

Solution: The first two paragraphs provide clear evidence of the old farmer's kindness. He and his wife treated their pet dog, Muko, with immense love and affection, caring for it as if it were their own child because they had no children of their own. They ensured the dog was well-fed, sharing their own food, and gave him plenty of boiled rice. Furthermore, the farmer was gentle and patient with all living creatures, even going so far as to turn over soil carefully to help birds find food.

Working with the Text - Question 2

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

Solution: The dog, Muko, acted unusually to guide the farmer to the gold. It came running to the farmer, whining persistently and running back and forth towards a specific spot. The farmer, curious and trusting his dog, followed him. The dog then began scratching the ground energetically. Believing the dog might have found a buried bone or perhaps some fish, the farmer struck his hoe into the earth at that spot and discovered the hidden gold.

Working with the Text - Question 3 (i) & (ii)

(i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first? (ii) How did it help him next?

Solution:

The spirit of the dog first helped the farmer by appearing to him in a dream. In the dream, the spirit instructed the farmer to cut down the pine tree that stood over the dog's grave. From this tree, the farmer was to make a mortar for preparing rice pastry and a mill for grinding bean sauce.
The dog's spirit helped the farmer a second time, also in a dream. It informed the farmer that his wicked neighbours had stolen and burnt the hand-mill they had made. The spirit then advised the farmer to collect the ashes of the burnt mill. These ashes, the spirit revealed, possessed magical properties and could make withered trees bloom again when sprinkled upon them.

Working with the Text - Question 4

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

Solution: The daimio rewarded the farmer because the farmer used the magical ashes with good intentions and genuine skill. When the farmer sprinkled the ashes on an old, withered cherry tree, it miraculously blossomed, delighting the daimio. In contrast, the neighbour, driven by greed and a desire to impress, used the ashes carelessly. When he threw them at a tree during the daimio's procession, the ashes didn't make the tree bloom; instead, they blew into the eyes and noses of the daimio and his wife, causing irritation and annoyance. This act of disrespect and failure to produce the magical effect led to the neighbour's punishment.

Common mistakes

Confusing the actions of the kind farmer with those of his greedy neighbours.
Misinterpreting the magical properties of the ashes.
Difficulty in recalling specific details from the story to answer comprehension questions.

Revision tips

Read the story carefully to grasp the plot and character development.
Focus on the moral lessons about kindness, honesty, and the consequences of greed.
Practice answering the comprehension and text-based questions to reinforce understanding.
Discuss the story's events and outcomes with classmates or teachers.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the name of the old farmer's pet dog?

Q2. Why did the neighbours become furious with the dog?

Q3. What did the spirit of the dog instruct the farmer to make from the pine tree?

Q4. What magical property did the ashes of the mill possess?

Q5. How did the greedy neighbour try to use the magical ashes?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of 'The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom'?

The main themes are the rewards of kindness and honesty, and the negative consequences of greed and selfishness, as illustrated by the contrasting fates of the old farmer and his neighbours.

Who are the main characters in Chapter 4 of Class 7 English?

The main characters are the kind old farmer, his wife, their pet dog Muko, and their greedy neighbours. The daimio also plays a significant role.

How did the dog help the farmer initially?

The dog, Muko, led the farmer to a spot where gold was buried by persistently whining and scratching the ground.

What was the magical power of the ashes?

The ashes, derived from the mill made from the dog's spirit's instruction, had the magical ability to make withered trees bloom when sprinkled on them.

Why did the neighbours punish the farmer's dog?

The neighbours, after the dog led them to a dead kitten instead of treasure, became furious and beat the dog to death.

How can these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions, helping students understand the story's details, character motivations, and moral lessons, which aids in exam preparation.

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