Diamonds 2 — Birth of the Modern Diamond Industry

Question 1

Cecil Rhodes’ main competitor in his early attempts to control diamond production was

A.	Barney Barnato.
B.	Ernest Oppenheimer.
C.	the Diamond Trading Company.
D.	an independent diggers’ association.

Answer 1

A. Barney Barnato.

Question 2

Sightholders purchase diamond rough by

A.	going directly to the mines.
B.	attending invitation-only trading events.
C.	selecting from lists sent out by De Beers.
D.	contacting other sightholders in their area.

Answer 2

B. attending invitation-only trading events.

Question 3

The group that united in 1890 to buy and sell all of the output of the major diamond producers, including De Beers, was the

A.	French Company.
B.	Dutch East India Company.
C.	Diamond Trading Company.
D.	London Diamond Syndicate.

Answer 3

D. London Diamond Syndicate.

Question 4

De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. was named after

A.	the president of South Africa.
B.	the man who found the Eureka Diamond.
C.	the district where the Star of South Africa was found.
D.	the owners of a farm where one of the first diamond rushes took place.

Answer 4

D. the owners of a farm where one of the first diamond rushes took place.

Question 5

The Diamond Information Center and the Diamond Promotion Service were created to

A.	assist in diamond marketing efforts.
B.	raise funds for diamond exploration.
C.	lobby for increased diamond mining.
D.	train diamond cutters and manufacturers.

Answer 5

A. assist in diamond marketing efforts.

Question 6

In the diamond trade, the word “specials” refers to

A.	annual diamond sales events.
B.	parcels of 5-ct. to 8-ct. rough.
C.	diamond rough over 10.80 cts.
D.	discounted selections of rough diamonds.

Answer 6

C. diamond rough over 10.80 cts.

Question 7

The path diamonds followed from mine to consumer was called the

A.	retail route.
B.	sight system.
C.	diamond track.
D.	diamond pipeline.

Answer 7

D. diamond pipeline.

Question 8

The Central Selling Organisation was a

A.	diamond mining company.
B.	major diamond manufacturer.
C.	rough diamond distribution agency.
D.	diamond industry public relations service.

Answer 8

C. rough diamond distribution agency.

Question 9

Diamond sources started appearing in South Africa during the

A.	1740s.
B.	1820s.
C.	1860s.
D.	1910s.

Answer 9

C. 1860s.

Question 10

The South African diamond rush was sparked by

A.	the arrival of Cecil Rhodes.
B.	political changes in Great Britain.
C.	reduced supply of Indian diamonds.
D.	the discovery of the Star of South Africa.

Answer 10

D. the discovery of the Star of South Africa.

Question 11

The soft, diamond-bearing material near the surface of a diamond field was named

A.	blueground.
B.	easyground.
C.	yellowground.
D.	shallowground.

Answer 11

C. yellowground.

Question 12

Before the discovery of South Africa’s diamond deposits, the world’s two major producers were India and

A.	Brazil.
B.	Russia.
C.	Australia.
D.	Venezuela.

Answer 12

A. Brazil.

Question 13

Oppenheimer’s answer to low diamond demand in the 1930s was to

A.	advertise heavily.
B.	reduce diamond prices.
C.	shut down operations at De Beers mines.
D.	stop buying diamonds from outside sources.

Answer 13

C. shut down operations at De Beers mines.

Question 14

Who established De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. in 1888?

A.	Cecil Rhodes
B.	Barney Barnato
C.	Harry Oppenheimer
D.	A Dutch farmer named De Beers

Answer 14

A. Cecil Rhodes

Question 15

De Beers requires its sightholders to have an excellent reputation in the industry and

A.	a history of advertising extensively.
B.	the ability to cut various types of rough.
C.	ownership of a large chain of retail stores.
D.	the financial strength to make large purchase commitments.

Answer 15

D. the financial strength to make large purchase commitments.