a. The sweet things being referred to in the extract are likely treats or desserts that Mrs. Pumphrey had been giving to Tricki, the dog, between meals. b. The speaker inquires if the sweet things have been cut down to assess if Mrs. Pumphrey has followed his previous advice. The speaker had recommended that Mrs. Pumphrey reduces the amount of sugar or sweets Tricki was consuming due to the dog's deteriorating health. c. The phrase 'cut down' means to reduce or decrease the amount of something. In the context of the extract, it refers to the reduction of sweet treats or desserts that Mrs. Pumphrey had been giving to Tricki, as advised by the speaker.