CBSE Class 7 English Honeycomb: Chapter 4 - The Ashes that Made the Trees Bloom

The neighbours killed the dog out of extreme frustration and anger. They had borrowed the dog from the kind old farmer with the hope that it would help them find a hidden treasure of gold, just as it had done for its owners. However, when the dog, perhaps sensing their cruel intentions or scared by their harsh treatment, failed to find any gold and instead dug up a dead kitten, the greedy couple became enraged. In their disappointment and fury, they beat the dog to death.

The correct item is: as if it was their own baby.

The story explicitly states that the old farmer and his wife, being childless, treated the dog with immense affection, showering it with love and care as if it were their own child. They provided it with a comfortable cushion to sleep on and fed it special meals of fish and rice, demonstrating a deep emotional bond rather than a utilitarian relationship.

The correct item is: lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.

Even after becoming wealthy due to the treasure found with the dog's help, the old couple did not change their benevolent nature. They continued to live a simple and comfortable life, and importantly, they shared their good fortune by being generous to their poorer neighbours, reflecting their inherent kindness and humility.

The correct item is: magic ash to win rewards.

The greedy neighbours borrowed the magical mill and mortar from the old couple. Their intention was not to make food items like rice pastry, but to use the magical properties of the mill and mortar to create the same kind of magic ash that had brought the old couple wealth and rewards, hoping to gain riches for themselves.

The first two paragraphs provide ample evidence of the old farmer's kindness. Firstly, he and his wife deeply loved their dog, treating it with the affection one would give to their own child. They ensured it had a comfortable place to sleep on a cushion and fed it nutritious meals of fish and rice. Secondly, the farmer demonstrated kindness towards birds. He would often stop his work in the fields to allow a white heron to catch worms, and he would deliberately turn up the soil to provide food for the birds, showing his compassion for all living creatures.

The dog led the farmer to the hidden gold through persistent and clear actions. When the farmer was in the field, the dog approached him, put its paw on his leg, and then motioned with its head towards a specific spot behind him. When the farmer initially did not understand or pay attention, the dog continued to whine and run back and forth between the farmer and the spot, persistently urging him to follow. This behaviour eventually convinced the farmer to investigate the area the dog was indicating, where he then dug and found the treasure.

The spirit of the dog first helped the farmer by appearing to him in a dream after the dog had passed away. In the dream, the spirit of the dog informed the farmer about a hidden treasure of gold located under the pine tree in the garden. It specifically instructed the farmer to dig at the spot indicated by the dog's paw, guiding him directly to the wealth that would change his fortunes.