Exercises for Unit 2: Matter in Our Surrounding

These exercises cover three subtopics from Unit 2 of the Ethiopian Grade 7 General
Science Textbook: States of Matter, Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter, and
Changes in Matter. Each subtopic includes true/false, multiple-choice, and short-answer
questions. Attempt all questions and check your answers afterward.

1. Subtopic 1: States of Matter

1.1 True/False Questions
1. Solids have a definite shape and volume because their particles are tightly packed
and only vibrate in place. (True/False)

2. Gases have a fixed volume and take the shape of their container. (True/False)

3. The particle model explains that heating a substance increases the motion of its
particles, leading to state changes like melting or evaporating. (True/False)

1.2 Multiple-Choice Questions

4. Which state of matter has particles that are far apart and move freely in random
directions?

a) Solid

b) Liquid

c) Gas

d) Plasma

5. What happens to water molecules when ice melts?

a) They disappear

b) They change into a different substance

c) Their arrangement becomes less rigid, allowing them to flow

d) They stop moving

6. Which analogy best describes liquids?

a) Soldiers in rigid formation

b) Bees buzzing in a field

c) A bustling market crowd

d) A locked puzzle

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1.3 Short-Answer Questions
7. Explain why a balloon filled with air expands when heated, using the particle model.

8. Give one example each of a solid, liquid, and gas from your daily life, and describe
one key characteristic of each state.

9. How does temperature affect the transition from a solid to a liquid? Provide a
real-world example.

2. Subtopic 2: Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter

2.1 True/False Questions
1. Density is a physical property because it can be measured without changing the
substance’s identity. (True/False)

2. Flammability is a physical property since it describes how a substance burns without

forming new materials. (True/False)

3. Physical properties like color and melting point are useful for identifying substances
without altering them. (True/False)

2.2 Multiple-Choice Questions

4. Which of the following is a chemical property?

a) Boiling point

b) Reactivity with acid

c) Mass

d) Texture

5. What formula is used to calculate density?

a) Density = Volume / Mass

b) Density = Mass × Volume

c) Density = Mass / Volume

d) Density = Volume + Mass

6. Why does a cork float on water while a stone sinks?

a) The cork has higher density

b) The stone has lower density

c) The cork has lower density than water

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 d) Density is not relevant

2.3 Short-Answer Questions

7. Differentiate between physical and chemical properties with one example each.

8. Describe how knowing the chemical property of rusting helps in everyday life, such
as with iron tools.

9. Explain the difference between melting point and boiling point, and why they are
physical properties.

3. Subtopic 3: Changes in Matter

3.1 True/False Questions
1. Dissolving salt in water is a chemical change because a new substance is formed.
(True/False)

2. Chemical changes are often irreversible and involve breaking and forming new chem-
ical bonds. (True/False)

3. Signs of a chemical change can include color change, gas production, or release of
heat. (True/False)

3.2 Multiple-Choice Questions

4. Which of the following is an example of a physical change?

a) Burning paper

b) Rusting nail

c) Tearing a cloth

d) Baking bread

5. In a chemical change, what happens to the particles?

a) They rearrange to form new substances

b) They stay the same but move faster

c) They only change shape

d) They disappear

6. Which analogy best describes a chemical change?

a) Rearranging furniture

b) Baking a cake from ingredients

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 c) Melting ice in a glass

d) Folding a paper

3.3 Short-Answer Questions

7. Explain the difference between physical and chemical changes using the example of
an egg (dropping vs. cooking).

8. Give two examples of chemical changes in Ethiopian daily life, such as food prepa-
ration, and explain why they are chemical.

9. How can you tell if a change is chemical? List three signs and provide an example
for one.

4. Answer Key
Answers are provided for self-assessment. Try the questions first, then check your re-
sponses.

4.1 Subtopic 1: States of Matter

1. True

2. False

3. True

4. c) Gas

5. c) Their arrangement becomes less rigid, allowing them to flow

6. c) A bustling market crowd

7. Heating increases particle motion, causing them to spread out and push against the
balloon walls more forcefully.

8. Example: Solid - Rock (definite shape); Liquid - Water (flows, takes container
shape); Gas - Air (expands to fill space).

9. Higher temperature increases particle motion, breaking rigid structure (e.g., ice to
water at 0°C).

4.2 Subtopic 2: Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter

1. True

2. False

3. True

4. b) Reactivity with acid

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 5. c) Density = Mass / Volume

6. c) The cork has lower density than water

7. Physical: Observable without change (e.g., color); Chemical: Involves reaction (e.g.,
flammability).

8. It warns us to protect iron from moisture to prevent weakening (e.g., painting tools).

9. Melting point: Solid to liquid; Boiling point: Liquid to gas. Both measurable
without altering identity.

4.3 Subtopic 3: Changes in Matter

1. False

2. True

3. True

4. c) Tearing a cloth

5. a) They rearrange to form new substances

6. b) Baking a cake from ingredients

7. Dropping: Physical (still egg, just broken); Cooking: Chemical (proteins change,
irreversible).

8. Examples: Fermenting teff for injera (produces acids/gases); Burning wood for
cooking (forms ash/CO2 ). They create new substances.

9. Signs: Color change, gas production, heat/light. Example: Rusting iron changes
color to red.