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Suggested terms: Steve Ember, I'm Barbara Klein, Explorations, VOA Special English
Click one for hint, twice for full word
worth billions of dollars
Meaning: Extremely valuable; having a financial value in the billions.
Example: The trade in diamonds is a worldwide business worth billions of dollars.
go back (time)
Meaning: To have existed since a particular time in the past.
Example: The use of valuable stones goes back thousands of years.
cut and polish
Meaning: To shape and shine gemstones to prepare them for sale.
Example: Workers cut and polish gemstones in India.
one wrong move
Meaning: A single mistake that can cause serious damage.
Example: One wrong move and a stone can break during cutting.
call attention to
Meaning: To make people notice or focus on something.
Example: Global Witness was one of the first groups to call attention to conflict diamonds.
gemstone
IPA (UK): /ˈdʒem.stəʊn/
IPA (US): /ˈdʒem.stoʊn/
Meaning: A precious or semi‑precious stone used in jewelry.
Meaning: A precious or semi‑precious stone used in jewelry.
Example: Ancient rulers used gemstones to show wealth and power.
kimberlite
IPA (UK): /ˈkɪm.bə.laɪt/
IPA (US): /ˈkɪm.bɚ.laɪt/
Meaning: A type of volcanic rock where diamonds are often found.
Meaning: A type of volcanic rock where diamonds are often found.
Example: Diamonds are found in volcanic pipes called kimberlite.
conflict diamonds
IPA (UK): /ˈkɒn.flɪkt ˈdaɪə.məndz/
IPA (US): /ˈkɑːn.flɪkt ˈdaɪə.məndz/
Meaning: Diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflict.
Meaning: Diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflict.
Example: Conflict diamonds were used to fund civil wars in several African countries.
carat
IPA (UK): /ˈkær.ət/
IPA (US): /ˈkær.ət/
Meaning: A unit of weight for gemstones; one carat equals 200 milligrams.
Meaning: A unit of weight for gemstones; one carat equals 200 milligrams.
Example: Diamonds are weighed and valued in carats.
turnover
IPA (UK): /ˈtɜːnˌəʊ.vər/
IPA (US): /ˈtɝːnˌoʊ.vɚ/
Meaning: The total value of business done in a period of time.
Meaning: The total value of business done in a period of time.
Example: Antwerp has a diamond turnover of more than $40 billion each year.
Other Listening Exercises
About Diamonds and the Trade in Diamonds
In progressB1 · 14:44