Question 1

Who was Muko in the story 'The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom'?

Accepted Answer

Muko was the pet dog of the kind old couple. They loved him as if he were their own child and fed him with fish and tidbits from their own chopsticks.

Question 2

What did the kind old man do for a living?

Accepted Answer

The kind old man was a rice farmer. He worked hard with his hoe or spade in the fields from morning until sunset.

Question 3

How did Muko help the old man find the treasure?

Accepted Answer

Muko ran to the old man, putting his paws against his legs and motioning with his head to a spot behind him. When the man dug there, he found a pile of gold.

Question 4

What did the wicked neighbors find when they forced the dog to find treasure for them?

Accepted Answer

When the wicked neighbors forced Muko to find treasure, he scratched the ground only to reveal a dead kitten, the smell of which made them hold their noses.

Question 5

What did the wicked couple do to Muko after he failed to find them gold?

Accepted Answer

In a fit of rage, the greedy old man killed the dog by kicking and beating him to death, and then they buried him in a hole in the ground.