Unit – IV

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 4

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom

The chapter “The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom” tells a heartwarming story about honesty, kindness, and the unexpected rewards of good deeds. Here’s a summary:

Honest and Kind Couple:

• The story revolves around an elderly couple who are known for their kindness and honesty. They treat their pet dog with great care and affection.

Tragic Loss:

• Unfortunately, their beloved dog dies, leaving them heartbroken.

Spirit of the Dog:

• In a dream, the spirit of the dog appears to the old man and instructs him to chop down a pine tree and make a mortar and pestle from it. These tools magically produce piles of gold when used.

Honesty and Unexpected Reward:

• The old man, valuing honesty over wealth, seeks advice from a wise man. He is instructed to burn the mortar and pestle and sprinkle the ashes on withered trees.

Daimyo and the Greedy Neighbor:

• The ashes have the magical power of making barren trees blossom. The old man demonstrates this to the local lord (daimyo), who rewards him handsomely.
• The old man’s greedy neighbor tries to replicate his success by stealing the remaining ashes. However, his attempt backfires, and he ends up getting dust blown in his face.

Themes:

• Honesty and Reward: The story emphasizes the importance of honesty. While the initial opportunity is for wealth through the magic tools, true reward comes through following the advice and performing a good deed.
• Kindness and Unexpected Help: The spirit of the dog, despite being gone, continues to guide and help the old couple, showcasing the power of a good deed extending beyond its initial recipient.
• Greed vs. Contentment: The contrasting outcomes of the old man and his neighbor highlight the pitfalls of greed and the value of contentment.

Comprehension Check

1. Why did the neighbours kill the dog?

Ans : The neighbors killed the dog because they were jealous of the old couple’s wealth and thought the dog held the secret, leading them to kill it out of greed and frustration.

2. Mark the right item.

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.

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.

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.

Ans : 

(b) as if it was their own baby. 

(c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours. (a) rice pastry and bean sauce.

Working With the Text

Answer the following

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

Ans : Here’s the evidence from the first two paragraphs that the old farmer is a kind person:

• He loved his dog as if it was his own baby: This shows a deep level of affection and care that extends beyond simply owning a pet. Feeding the dog fish and boiled rice, which were likely treats for the farmer himself, further demonstrates his love.
• He was patient and kind to everything that had life: This suggests a general kindness that extends beyond just his dog. Digging up sod specifically to provide food for the birds showcases his compassion for all living creatures.

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

Ans : In the story “The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom,” the dog’s actions led the farmer to the hidden gold in two key ways:

1. Whining and Running: The dog kept running back and forth, whining and nudging the farmer with its paws. This persistent behavior attracted the farmer’s attention and made him follow the dog.
2. Scratching the Earth: Once the dog led the farmer to a specific spot, it started scratching the earth. This digging behavior likely signaled to the farmer that something was hidden there, prompting him to investigate further with his hoe, eventually leading to the discovery of the gold.

3. 

1. How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?
2. How did it help him next?

Ans : 

1.

• The spirit appeared to the farmer in a dream and instructed him to cut down a specific pine tree.
• The spirit then told him to make a mortar and pestle from the wood.
• When the farmer used these tools to grind rice and beans, they miraculously turned into piles of gold.

2. 

• After the farmer sought advice about the magical tools, the dog’s spirit reappeared in another dream.
• This time, it instructed the farmer to burn the mortar and pestle and sprinkle the ashes on withered trees.
• When the farmer followed these instructions, the ashes revived the trees, making them blossom again.

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

Ans : The daimio rewarded the honest farmer (used ashes for good) but punished the greedy neighbor (stole ashes, caused trouble). It’s about honesty and the results of your actions.

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 4

Working With Language

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 acting, 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.

Ans : 

1. Who is in school? 

2. Where is Anil sitting? 

3. What is Anil doing?

4. Who is sitting in the second row?

5. What is Anil’s friend doing? 

6. Who is writing on the blackboard?

7. What are the children doing in their copybooks? 

8. What are some children doing (looking)? 

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 the school. It is nearby.

Ans : 

Neha:  Where  did you get this book?

Neha:  Why  is your sister crying?

Neha:  Whose  room is this, yours or hers?

Neha:  How  do you go to school?

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.

Ans : 

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

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

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.

Ans : 

1. The project appears very improbable at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
2. He lacks incompetence. 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 not an improper remark to make under the circumstances. 
5. He appears to be insensitive. 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 italicised 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.

Ans : There was once a play which became very successful. An famous actor was acting in it. In the play his role was that of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in the 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.

6. 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 a banana.

Speaking and Writing 

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 ………….. Of course, he is much happier writing in English than in Hindi. He has written …………….. . I find his books a little hard to understand ………………… .

Ans : 

1. he writes in both English and Hindi 
2. many books in English and only a few short stories in Hindi 
3. Is much better than my English

Chivvy

The poem “Chivvy” by Sumita Banerjee uses humor to depict a child’s perspective on the constant stream of instructions and reminders from adults.

Focus on Instructions:

• The poem highlights the overwhelming number of instructions children receive from grown-ups throughout the day.
• These instructions cover various aspects of behavior, including how to speak, eat, sit, stand, and interact with others.

Child’s Frustration:

• The repeated use of the word “chivvy” suggests the child feels nagged and micromanaged by the constant guidance.
• The poem lists numerous examples of these instructions, creating a sense of frustration from the child’s point of view.

Underlying Care:

• Despite the child’s annoyance, the poem doesn’t necessarily portray the adults negatively.
• The instructions, though repetitive, likely stem from the adults’ desire to teach proper manners and ensure the child’s safety and well-being.

Theme:

• The central theme of “Chivvy” is the tension between a child’s desire for independence and the guidance provided by caring adults.

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 4

Working With Poem chivvy

Discuss these questions in small groups before you answer them.

1. When is a grown-up likely to say this? Don’t talk with your mouth full.
2. When are you likely to be told this? Say thank you.
3. When do you think an adult would say this? No one thinks you are funny.

Ans : 

Don’t talk with your mouth full:

• When: This is a common saying used by adults when a child is talking while they are still chewing their food. It’s a way to encourage good table manners and to avoid making a mess or spraying food particles while speaking.

Say thank you:

• When: This is typically said to a child after they receive a gift, a favor, or help from someone. It teaches children gratitude and appreciation for the kindness of others.

No one thinks you are funny:

• When: This is a less common phrase, but an adult might say this in a situation where a child’s attempt at humor is offensive, mean-spirited, or simply not funny. It’s important to note that adults should use this phrase with caution to avoid discouraging a child’s creativity or sense of humor. It’s better to offer constructive criticism or suggest alternative ways to be 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?

Ans : The adult asks the child to think for themselves in the last lines. This might be unreasonable because the poem shows the child only gets instructions, not chances to make their own decisions. It’s like asking someone to swim without teaching them first.

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?

Ans : Grown-ups say those things because they want kids to learn good manners (like “Say thank you”) and avoid bad habits (like “Don’t talk with your mouth full”). Yes, it’s important to teach kids how to behave, but maybe not in such a nonstop way!

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.

Ans : 

Don’t just give orders, ask and explain,

Let curiosity not be your bane.

Listen sometimes, put down your phone,

We have a world of our own to be known.

Trust us a little, with choices to make,

So independence for our own sake.

FAQ’s

What topics are covered in NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 4?

Chapter 4 of Class 7 English covers two topics: “The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom” and “Chivvy.”

How do NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 4 help in understanding these topics?

These solutions provide in-depth analyses, summaries, and interpretations of each topic, aiding students in grasping the themes, characters, and literary techniques used in the text.

What is “The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom” about?

“The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom” is a story about resilience and hope in the face of adversity. It explores the transformative power of nature and the human spirit.

What is the significance of “Chivvy” in this chapter?

“Chivvy” is a poem that reflects on the concept of time and the urgency of life. It encourages readers to seize the moment and make the most of their time on earth.

How do these stories and poems relate to real-life experiences?

Students can relate to the themes of resilience, hope, and the passage of time depicted in “The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom” and “Chivvy.” These texts may inspire readers to find strength in challenging times and appreciate the value of every moment in life.