2. Read the following passage carefully. (10)
1. Chocolate diamonds are actually brown diamonds and, compared to the well-known white diamond, they aren’t worth
much. Diamonds are produced in mines. The best known diamond mines are in Australia, South Africa and Russia.
The largest diamond mine was discovered in 1976 in the desert of Australia near a little creek named lake Argyle.
Diamonds are created under very extreme conditions of pressure and high temperature. It is a general
misunderstanding that there exists only white colourless diamonds. Actually, diamonds exist in many different
colours.
2. In all the diamond mines of the world, almost 80% of all diamonds produced are brownish in colour. Because they
were found in such large quantities compared to the other coloured diamonds, they were considered as low-value
diamonds, only good for the industrial sector. But a famous man called Le Vian came with a marketing campaign to
increase the popularity of the chocolate diamond. Instead of calling in brown diamond, he gave it popular name like
caramel, chocolate, cinnamon and cognac. Since his marketing campaign, chocolate diamonds are becoming very
popular.
3. The value of a diamond is based on its shape, brightness and colour. Because white diamonds are rare, their value is
based on the fact that there are not many white diamonds around. But if you look at the shape and brightness, then the
brightest diamond in this world known to man are brown diamonds. Before the development of the Argyle diamond
mine in Australia in 1986, most brown diamonds were considered worthless for jewellery; they were even not
assessed on the diamond colour scale, and were predominantly used for industrial purpose. However, marketing
strategies changed in the 1980s and brown diamonds became popular gems. The change was mostly due to supply of
the Argyle mine, with its 35 million carats (7,000 kg) of diamonds per year, makes about one-third of global
production of natural diamonds; 80% of Argyle diamonds are brown. The percentage of brown diamonds is lower in
other mines, but it is almost always a significant part of the total production.
On the basis of your reading answer any ten of the following questions:
(i) When marketing strategies changed in the 1980s, brown diamonds………….
(a) Became popular gems (b) unpopular (c) white diamonds (d) chocolate diamonds
(ii) Where was the largest diamond mine discovered?
(a) In the desert of Australia (b) In Russia (c) South Africa (d) None of these
(iii)What is the correct order of the information given below:
I. Le vian called Brown diamonds as chocolate diamond.
II. Development of Argyle mine in 1986
III. Brown diamonds were considered worthless for jewellery before the 1980’s
IV. They became popular with the Argyle mine producing 7000kg of diamonds per year.
(a) III, II, I, IV (b) III, I, II, IV (c) II, III, I, IV (d) IV, II, III, I
(iv) Under what conditions are diamonds created?
(a) High pressure and high temperature (b) Low temperature and moderate pressure
(c) High pressure and low temperature (d) Low pressure and low temperature
(v) The value of a diamond is based on: I. colour II. Brightness III. Size IV. Quantity
(a) I and III (b) I and II (c) III and IV (d) II and IV
(vi) Argyle diamond mine in Australia was developed in the year
(a) 1896 (b) 1986 (c) 1972 (d) 1980
(vii) ………… in ‘para 3’ means the same as ‘strategies’.
(viii) Only white colourless diamonds exist in the world. (True/ False)
(ix) Almost ____% of all diamonds are brownish in colour.
(a) 70% (b) 60% (c) 80% (d) 90%
(x) ………. in, ‘para 3’ means the same as ‘important.’
Answers
Answer:
(i) When marketing strategies changed in the 1980s, brown diamonds
------->(a) Became popular gems.
(ii) Where was the largest diamond mine discovered?
------->(a) In the desert of Australia
(a) In the desert of Australia (iv) Under what conditions are diamonds created?
------->(a) High pressure and high temperature.
(v) The value of a diamond is based on:
I. colour II. Brightness III. Size IV. Quantity
-------> (b) I and II .
(vi) Argyle diamond mine in Australia was developed in the year
-------> (d) 1980 .
(vii) ………… in ‘para 3’ means the same as ‘strategies’.
-------> As strategies was already there...you can use policy.
(viii) Only white colourless diamonds exist in the world. (True/ False)
-------> False.
(ix) Almost ____% of all diamonds are brownish in colour.
-------> (c) 80%
(x) ………. in, ‘para 3’ means the same as ‘important.’
-------> Significant.
Explanation:
I don't know the answer of the question (iii)...
Hope you will find it yourself.