Which country is credited with the start of the diamond industry around 600 BC as India's sole source?

• A. Brazil
• B. India
• C. Australia
• D. Canada

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the origin of the diamond trade. Diamonds were first mined and worked in ancient India, with diamond deposits and cutting/polishing techniques developing there around 600 BC. This is why India is credited with starting the diamond industry: it was the sole and dominant source of diamonds for many centuries, establishing the first global trade networks for rough and cut stones that connected Indian producers with markets across Asia and the Mediterranean. Brazil, Australia, and Canada became important diamond producers much later—Brazil in the 18th century, Australia in the late 19th, and Canada in the late 20th—so they don’t fit the early start described.