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Diamonds are conductive to secrets. With only some exceptions, they
give no clue as to where on or in the Earth they originated. Although the indus-
try is moving toward a system for certifying the source of every diamond, the
hundreds of millions of stones moving through the pipeline today are anony-
mous, shedding their history as they pass from rough to polished.
(National Geographic. 2005. May)
A. Comprehension
I. Match the following words (1–10) with definitions (a–j)
1. unique a. a written order requiring a person to appear in a
law court
2. eruption b. inevitable, impossible to change or prevent
3. inexorable c. to burn or to make smth start burning
4. avarice d. to create or cause conflicts, excitement, anger
5. ignite e. unlike anything else, being the only one of its
type
6. intricate f. taking place in the Middle Ages
7. medieval g. to accuse officially
8. indict h. extreme desire for wealth
9. subpoena i. composed of many small parts put together in a
complex way
10. incite j. throwing out burning lava and rocks
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Which factors determine the high cost of diamonds?
2. What pipeline does the author refer to?
3. What do you know about De Beers?
4. Why do De Beers executives avoid visiting the USA?
5. Who are sightholders and why are they carefully screened?
6. Why are diamonds often called “bloodied’?
7. What are unique characteristics of diamonds?
B. Language Practice
I. I. Say whether –ing and –ed forms in the following sentences are
1) nouns; 2) adjectives; 3) participles; 4) verbs
1. “Let me teach you about diamonds”: he said unwrapping more stones and
piling them a little pyramid.
2. Diamonds had remained below the deepest layers of the Earth’s crust until
they rode up to the surface in a fast moving eruption of molten rock, called
kimberlite.
3. The kimberlite cooled in narrow funnels shaped like carrots with their wide,
rounded ends sticking up from the surface.
31
Diamonds are conductive to secrets. With only some exceptions, they
give no clue as to where on or in the Earth they originated. Although the indus-
try is moving toward a system for certifying the source of every diamond, the
hundreds of millions of stones moving through the pipeline today are anony-
mous, shedding their history as they pass from rough to polished.
(National Geographic. 2005. May)
A. Comprehension
I. Match the following words (1–10) with definitions (a–j)
1. unique a. a written order requiring a person to appear in a
law court
2. eruption b. inevitable, impossible to change or prevent
3. inexorable c. to burn or to make smth start burning
4. avarice d. to create or cause conflicts, excitement, anger
5. ignite e. unlike anything else, being the only one of its
type
6. intricate f. taking place in the Middle Ages
7. medieval g. to accuse officially
8. indict h. extreme desire for wealth
9. subpoena i. composed of many small parts put together in a
complex way
10. incite j. throwing out burning lava and rocks
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Which factors determine the high cost of diamonds?
2. What pipeline does the author refer to?
3. What do you know about De Beers?
4. Why do De Beers executives avoid visiting the USA?
5. Who are sightholders and why are they carefully screened?
6. Why are diamonds often called “bloodied’?
7. What are unique characteristics of diamonds?
B. Language Practice
I. I. Say whether –ing and –ed forms in the following sentences are
1) nouns; 2) adjectives; 3) participles; 4) verbs
1. “Let me teach you about diamonds”: he said unwrapping more stones and
piling them a little pyramid.
2. Diamonds had remained below the deepest layers of the Earth’s crust until
they rode up to the surface in a fast moving eruption of molten rock, called
kimberlite.
3. The kimberlite cooled in narrow funnels shaped like carrots with their wide,
rounded ends sticking up from the surface.
31
