CBSE Class 7 English — Honeycomb Chapter 4 The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Worksheet with Answers

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom is set in ancient Japan and revolves around an honest old man and his wife who love their pet dog dearly. One day, the dog scratches the ground and reveals a hidden treasure of gold coins. The couple's greedy neighbors borrow the dog, but when it does not lead them to treasure, they kill it in anger. The kind old man buries his beloved pet under a pine tree, which grows rapidly. The spirit of the dog appears in the old man's dream and tells him to make a mortar from the tree. When the couple uses this mortar to pound rice, it magically turns into gold. The greedy neighbors again borrow the mortar, but for them it produces only foul-smelling waste. In rage, they burn the mortar. The old man collects the ashes and discovers that sprinkling them on withered trees makes them bloom instantly. The lord of the province rewards him richly for this miracle. The envious neighbors try the same trick but fail miserably and are punished. This folk tale teaches that goodness and honesty are always rewarded, while greed and cruelty bring suffering.

This worksheet is designed for Class 7 students who have completed reading Chapter 4 from the NCERT Honeycomb textbook. The difficulty level is moderate, meaning questions range from straightforward recall to analytical and inferential thinking. Students should allocate 60 to 70 minutes to complete all sections thoughtfully. It is best attempted in one sitting to simulate exam conditions, but parents may choose to divide it across two sessions if the child finds the length challenging. Encourage your child to read each question carefully, underline keywords, and refer back to the text if needed. Writing answers in complete sentences for short and long questions helps build strong exam habits. Use a pencil for initial attempts so corrections can be made easily. Once completed, cross-check answers using the detailed answer key provided at the end of this worksheet. This self-assessment builds confidence and highlights areas needing more revision. The worksheet is printer-friendly and works equally well as a digital or paper exercise.

Multiple-choice questions test your ability to recall facts, understand the sequence of events, and interpret character motivations. Each MCQ has four options, and only one is correct. Read the question stem carefully, eliminate obviously incorrect choices, and select the best answer. In CBSE exams, MCQs carry one mark each and are designed to cover a broad range of content quickly. This section contains six MCQs drawn from different parts of the chapter, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the story. Topics include the discovery of treasure, the fate of the dog, the magical mortar, the ashes that bloom trees, and the final rewards and punishments. Practising MCQs sharpens your speed and accuracy, both critical for scoring well in the objective section of the English paper. Make sure you have read the chapter at least once before attempting these questions. Even if you are unsure, try to reason out the answer using context clues from the story rather than guessing randomly.

Fill-in-the-blank questions require precise recall of vocabulary, names, objects, and actions from the chapter. You must complete each sentence with the exact word or phrase that fits grammatically and contextually. This section contains five carefully chosen sentences that highlight key moments in the narrative: the discovery of treasure, the dog's tragic death, the creation of the mortar, the magic of the ashes, and the lord's reward. Read each sentence fully before filling in the blank to ensure the completed sentence makes sense. Pay attention to tenses, singular or plural forms, and proper nouns. Unlike MCQs, there is no choice given, so you must rely entirely on your memory and understanding of the text. If you are unsure, think about the sequence of events in the story and use logical reasoning. Fill-in-the-blanks are common in CBSE worksheets and term exams because they test both comprehension and attention to detail. Practising this format improves retention and prepares you for similar questions in formal assessments.

This section uses a match-the-following format to test your understanding of relationships between characters, events, objects, and outcomes in the story. You will see two columns: Column A lists actions or objects, and Column B lists their consequences or descriptions. Your task is to draw the correct connections. Matching exercises reinforce cause-and-effect reasoning and deepen comprehension of the plot structure. There are five items to match in this worksheet, covering the dog's discovery, the mortar's magic, the ashes' power, the reward from the daimio, and the punishment of the wicked neighbors. Write your answers as pairs, for example, A-3, B-1, and so forth. If your worksheet uses a true-or-false format instead, read each statement carefully and decide whether it accurately reflects events in the chapter. Even one incorrect word can make a true statement false, so attention to detail is crucial. Both formats are popular in CBSE assessments because they efficiently test a wide range of content in a short space. Practise these question types regularly to build speed and accuracy.

Short-answer questions require you to write brief, focused responses, typically two to three sentences or 30 to 40 words. These questions test your ability to explain events, describe characters, and interpret motives. In CBSE exams, short answers usually carry two to three marks each. This section contains five questions that ask you to explain why the old couple loved the dog, what happened when the greedy neighbors borrowed the mortar, how the old man discovered the magic of the ashes, why the daimio rewarded him, and what punishment the wicked neighbors received. When answering, start with a direct response to the question, then support it with one or two details from the text. Avoid copying long passages; instead, paraphrase in your own words to show understanding. Use complete sentences and correct grammar. Short-answer practice builds the writing stamina and clarity needed for longer questions. It also trains you to identify the most relevant information quickly, a skill that saves time in exams. Review the chapter before attempting these questions, and refer to specific events or dialogue when possible to make your answers more convincing and accurate.

Long-answer questions demand detailed, well-organized responses of 80 to 100 words. They carry four to five marks and assess your ability to analyze themes, compare characters, and draw moral lessons from the text. This section contains three questions. The first asks you to contrast the old couple with their greedy neighbors, highlighting differences in character and fate. The second requires you to explain the moral of the story and its relevance to real life. The third is a higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) question: it asks you to imagine an alternate ending where the wicked neighbors repent and change, and to discuss what lessons that version would teach. When writing long answers, structure your response with a clear introduction, two or three supporting points, and a concluding sentence. Use examples from the text to illustrate your points. Avoid vague statements; be specific about what happened and why it matters. Long answers demonstrate your depth of understanding and your ability to think critically, both valued skills in CBSE evaluations. Practise writing within word limits to develop conciseness and clarity. Review model answers from the answer key to see how ideas can be organized effectively.

Case-study questions present a short passage or scenario based on the chapter, followed by sub-questions that test comprehension, inference, and application of concepts. This format has become increasingly popular in CBSE assessments because it integrates reading and analytical skills. The case study in this worksheet describes the moment when the old man discovers that the ashes from the burnt mortar can make withered trees bloom. It is followed by four sub-questions: identifying what the old man did with the ashes, explaining the reaction of the daimio, contrasting the old man's and the neighbor's use of the ashes, and discussing what this episode reveals about the old man's character. Each sub-question carries one or two marks. Read the passage carefully, underline key details, and refer back to it when answering. Case studies reward close reading and the ability to connect textual evidence with interpretation. They prepare you for the integrated format increasingly used in CBSE English papers. Practising case studies also improves your speed in processing information and framing precise answers under time pressure, both essential exam skills for Class 7 and beyond.

The answer key is the most valuable part of this worksheet. It provides correct answers for every question along with brief explanations that clarify why each answer is right. Use the key not just to mark your work, but to learn from mistakes and deepen your understanding. For MCQs, the explanation highlights the relevant part of the text. For fill-in-the-blanks and matching, it confirms the exact word or pairing. For short and long answers, model responses show how to structure ideas, use evidence, and write concisely. Review the explanations even for questions you answered correctly; you may discover new insights or better ways to phrase your thoughts. If you scored below seventy percent, re-read the chapter and attempt the worksheet again after a few days. Repeated practice with self-correction is one of the most effective study strategies. Parents supervising home practice should encourage children to compare their answers with the key and discuss any differences. This active engagement transforms the worksheet from a passive test into a powerful learning tool that builds confidence, sharpens exam skills, and reinforces the moral and literary lessons of this beautiful Japanese folk tale.

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