Material Around Us Part 1: MCQs (Q1–Q25)
Part 1 — Questions 1–25 (Basic concepts: materials, properties, kinds of materials)
1. Which of the following is a natural material?
A. Plastic
B. Cotton ← Correct answer: B
C. Nylon
D. Polyester
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — plastic is synthetic (man-made).
B) Correct — cotton is a natural fibre obtained from cotton plants.
C) Incorrect — nylon is a synthetic fibre.
D) Incorrect — polyester is synthetic.
2. Which property describes how easily a material can be drawn into thin wires?
A. Hardness
B. Luster
C. Ductility ← Correct answer: C
D. Elasticity
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — hardness is resistance to scratching/deformation.
B) Incorrect — luster is shine.
C) Correct — ductility is the ability to be drawn into wires (e.g., copper).
D) Incorrect — elasticity is ability to regain shape after deformation.
3. Which material is best described as brittle?
A. Copper
B. Glass ← Correct answer: B
C. Rubber
D. Iron
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — copper is malleable and ductile.
B) Correct — glass breaks or shatters easily; it is brittle.
C) Incorrect — rubber is elastic/flexible.
D) Incorrect — iron is tough and malleable.
4. Which property tells us whether a material floats or sinks in water?
A. Hardness
B. Density ← Correct answer: B
C. Conductivity
D. Malleability
Explanations:
A) Irrelevant.
B) Correct — density (mass per unit volume) relative to water determines float/sink.
C) Incorrect — conductivity relates to electricity/heat.
D) Incorrect — malleability relates to shaping under pressure.
5. Which of the following materials is a good conductor of electricity?
A. Wood
B. Plastic
C. Copper ← Correct answer: C
D. Rubber
Explanations:
A/B/D) Incorrect — wood, plastic, rubber are insulators (poor conductors).
C) Correct — copper is an excellent conductor and used in wires.
6. Malleability means a material can be
A. Stretched into a wire
B. Hammered into thin sheets ← Correct answer: B
C. Dissolved in water
D. Melted at low temperature
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — that is ductility.
B) Correct — malleability is the ability to be rolled or hammered into thin sheets (e.g., aluminium).
C/D) Irrelevant properties.
7. Which material would be chosen for making a window pane?
A. Rubber
B. Glass ← Correct answer: B
C. Cotton cloth
D. Wood plank
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — rubber is opaque and flexible.
B) Correct — glass is transparent, rigid and used for windows.
C/D) Incorrect — not transparent and unsuitable.
8. Which of these materials is flexible and elastic?
A. Stone
B. Brick
C. Rubber ← Correct answer: C
D. Glass
Explanations:
A/B/D) Incorrect — rigid, brittle materials.
C) Correct — rubber stretches and returns to shape (elastic).
9. Which material would you select for making electric wires?
A. Wood
B. Copper ← Correct answer: B
C. Glass
D. Plastic (as conductor)
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — wood is insulating.
B) Correct — copper is an excellent conductor and widely used in wiring (plastic is used as insulating covering).
C) Incorrect — glass is insulating and brittle.
D) Incorrect as conductor; plastic is used as insulation, not the conducting core.
10. Which is a non-metal material?
A. Iron
B. Copper
C. Carbon (as graphite) ← Correct answer: C
D. Aluminium
Explanations:
A/B/D) Metals.
C) Correct — carbon is a non-metal; graphite is an allotrope that conducts electricity but is non-metallic.
11. Which of the following is TRUE for plastics?
A. They are always biodegradable quickly
B. Many plastics are non-biodegradable and cause pollution ← Correct answer: B
C. Plastics are natural materials from plants only
D. Plastics cannot be formed into different shapes
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — many plastics do not decompose quickly.
B) Correct — persistent plastics cause environment problems; some are recyclable.
C) Incorrect — most plastics are synthetic.
D) Incorrect — plastics are mouldable when heated.
12. Which of the following is a property of metals?
A. Poor conductor of heat
B. Brittle and non-shiny
C. Good conductors of heat and electricity; malleable and ductile ← Correct answer: C
D. Dissolve in water easily
Explanations:
A/B/D) Incorrect.
C) Correct — typical metal properties include conductivity, luster, malleability, ductility.
13. Which material is an insulator (electrical)?
A. Silver
B. Gold
C. Plastic ← Correct answer: C
D. Aluminium
Explanations:
A/B/D) Metals and good conductors.
C) Correct — plastic does not conduct electricity and is used as insulation.
14. A material that returns to its original shape after removing deforming force is called
A. Fragile
B. Rigid
C. Elastic ← Correct answer: C
D. Brittle
Explanations:
A/B/D) Incorrect.
C) Correct — elasticity is the capacity to regain original shape (e.g., rubber band).
15. Which of the following is NOT true about wood?
A. It is a natural material
B. It conducts electricity well ← Correct answer: B
C. It can float if dry
D. It can be used to make furniture
Explanations:
A/C/D) True statements.
B) Correct — wood is generally an electrical insulator (not a good conductor).
16. Which test would you do to check hardness of a material?
A. Bend it gently
B. Try to scratch it with a harder object ← Correct answer: B
C. See if it floats in water
D. Smell it
Explanations:
A) Bending tests elasticity/malleability.
B) Correct — hardness measured by resistance to scratching/indentation.
C/D) Not related to hardness.
17. Materials that let light pass through completely are called
A. Opaque
B. Translucent
C. Transparent ← Correct answer: C
D. Reflective only
Explanations:
A) Opaque — do not let light through.
B) Translucent — let some light through but not clear image.
C) Correct — transparent materials (e.g., glass) allow clear passage of light.
D) Reflective refers to mirror-like surfaces.
18. Which group contains only metals?
A. Plastic, rubber, wood
B. Iron, copper, aluminium ← Correct answer: B
C. Glass, ceramic, rubber
D. Cotton, wool, silk
Explanations:
A/C/D) Non-metal groups.
B) Correct — iron, copper and aluminium are metals.
19. Which of these materials is commonly used for making cooking pans because it conducts heat well?
A. Plastic
B. Paper
C. Aluminium ← Correct answer: C
D. Wood
Explanations:
A/B/D) Poor heat conductors.
C) Correct — aluminium is a good conductor and light, used in cookware.
20. Which property is used to test whether a material is magnetic?
A. Floatation test in water
B. Breaking it into pieces
C. Bringing a magnet near it to see if it is attracted ← Correct answer: C
D. Heating it to 1000°C only
Explanations:
A/B/D) Not direct magnetic tests.
C) Correct — magnet attraction indicates ferromagnetism (iron, nickel, cobalt).
21. Which of the following fabrics is animal-derived?
A. Cotton
B. Nylon
C. Wool ← Correct answer: C
D. Rayon
Explanations:
A) Cotton is plant-based.
B/D) Synthetic or regenerated fibres.
C) Correct — wool comes from sheep (animal fibre).
22. Which material best resists water absorption and is used for raincoats?
A. Cotton cloth without coating
B. Woolen blanket
C. Plastic (waterproof materials like PVC) ← Correct answer: C
D. Sponge
Explanations:
A/B/D) Absorbent to some degree.
C) Correct — plastics can be waterproof and used in rainwear.
23. Which of the following statements is correct about ceramics?
A. Ceramics are highly elastic and ductile
B. Ceramics are hard, brittle and poor conductors of electricity ← Correct answer: B
C. Ceramics are made only of metals
D. Ceramics melt at very low temperatures
Explanations:
A) Incorrect.
B) Correct — ceramics (clay, porcelain) are hard, brittle and insulating.
C/D) Wrong.
24. Which material would be best for making an umbrella frame (needs lightness and reasonable strength)?
A. Cast iron
B. Aluminium or steel (lightweight alloys) ← Correct answer: B
C. Solid stone
D. Glass rods
Explanations:
A) Too heavy and rust-prone.
B) Correct — aluminium or steel alloys provide lightness & strength.
C/D) Impractical and brittle.
25. Which one of the following materials is biodegradable?
A. Plastic bag (conventional)
B. Styrofoam
C. Paper ← Correct answer: C
D. Polyester cloth
Explanations:
A/B/D) Mostly non-biodegradable or slow to decompose.
C) Correct — paper decomposes naturally and is biodegradable.