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General Pearl Knowledge Trivia Quiz

In ancient and medieval times, only royalty were allowed to own pearls. Non-royalty caught possessing pearls were often put to death. It's not a crime to not know much about pearls, so educate yourself with this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by naugros. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
naugros

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
292,810

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
883

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Pearls are composed of a substance made up of calcium carbonate (in the form of aragonite) and conchiolin (an organic glue). What is this compound substance called? Hint

Chalk

Ivory

Essence d'Orient

Nacre

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these is not a shape pearls can be found in? Hint

Button

Coin

Pearls come in all shapes and sizes

Cross

3. Pearling was once one of the most profitable businesses in the world. Vast pearl beds existed off the Arabian peninsula and in the Caribbean, but these are all but gone. What was the biggest factor in their demise? Hint

Changes in water temperature

Red tide

Overfishing

Pollution

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Question 4 of 10

4. Known as the "King of Pearls", who was the man known for first marketing cultured pearls to the world? Hint

Nicholas Paspaley

Kokichi Mikimoto

Charles Tiffany

Andres Gallaraga

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Question 5 of 10

5. There are four main types (or families) of pearls: Akoya, Freshwater, South Sea and Tahitian. What is the primary determinant in deciding what type a pearl is? Hint

Color

The region it comes from

Size

The mollusk that created it

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Question 6 of 10

6. "Culturing" a pearl means that man introduces the irritant into the mollusk. Where is it generally thought that man first cultured pearls? Hint

China

United States

Japan

India

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following is NOT the scientific name of a mollusk farmed for pearl production? Hint

Pinctada margaritifera

Pinctada fucata

Hyriopsis cumingii

Crassostrea gigas

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Question 8 of 10

8. Cultured pearls are formed by a mollusk after man introduces an irritant into it through a surgical procedure. This process is called nucleation. Which of these cannot be used as nucleus? Hint

Tissue from a "donor" mollusk

Mother of pearl beads

Glass beads

Gemstones

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is the polished shell of a pearl-producing mollusk called when used for adornment? Hint

Essence d'Orient

Rhinestone

Mother of pearl

Opal

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these companies is known for selling pearls? Hint

Mikimoto

All of them

Honora

Iridesse

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Pearls are composed of a substance made up of calcium carbonate (in the form of aragonite) and conchiolin (an organic glue). What is this compound substance called?

Answer: Nacre

A mollusk will coat any irritant that it cannot eject with nacre for as long as the irritant remains inside the mollusk. The longer the irritant remains, the more the mollusk coats it, the larger the pearl!

2. Which of these is not a shape pearls can be found in?

Answer: Pearls come in all shapes and sizes

The freshwater mussel is usually nucleated with a piece of tissue from a donor mussel. The shape of that piece of tissue will determine the shape of the pearl. Pearls have been created in the shapes of button, coins, hearts and crosses and many more!

Answer: Overfishing

Pollution has been responsible for the destruction other pearl beds, like Lake Biwa in Japan and red tide is a constant threat to all pearling areas. The largest pearl-producing countries now have regulations to avoid overfishing, thus protecting their exportable, natural treasures.

4. Known as the "King of Pearls", who was the man known for first marketing cultured pearls to the world?

Answer: Kokichi Mikimoto

Mikimoto placed a lot of energy getting cultured pearls recognized as real pearls and was tireless in marketing them. To gain publicity in the US market he had a model of the White House built of pearls!

5. There are four main types (or families) of pearls: Akoya, Freshwater, South Sea and Tahitian. What is the primary determinant in deciding what type a pearl is?

Answer: The mollusk that created it

The Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian oysters all live in saltwater. Freshwater pearls come from a freshwater mussel.

6. "Culturing" a pearl means that man introduces the irritant into the mollusk. Where is it generally thought that man first cultured pearls?

Answer: China

Lead images of Buddha were slipped into a freshwater mussel between the animals mantle and the shell. The mussel coated the image with nacre and created a pearl Buddha.

7. Which of the following is NOT the scientific name of a mollusk farmed for pearl production?

Answer: Crassostrea gigas

The Pinctada margaritifera, or black-lipped oyster, produces Tahitian pearls. The Pinctada Fucata is known as the Akoya oyster and produces pearls of the same name. The Hyriopsis cumingii is a freshwater mussel that produces freshwater pearls.

The Crassostrea gigas is the Pacific oyster and, although quite yummy (to some, not me), is not farmed for pearl production.

8. Cultured pearls are formed by a mollusk after man introduces an irritant into it through a surgical procedure. This process is called nucleation. Which of these cannot be used as nucleus?

Answer: Glass beads

There is a company in Vietnam that is currently producing Tahitian pearls that use diamonds, rubies and other precious gems as the nucleus. Once harvested, some of the pearl substance is "worked" away to reveal the gem beneath.

9. What is the polished shell of a pearl-producing mollusk called when used for adornment?

Answer: Mother of pearl

Mother of pearl is made of the same substance (nacre) as a pearl. Mother of pearl has been used to make buttons, pistol and knife handles, inlays for guitars and watch faces.

10. Which of these companies is known for selling pearls?

Answer: All of them

Mikimoto is known mainly for the Akoya pearl and has been in business since 1899. Honora has been in the pearl business for over 60 years and is known mostly for offering freshwater pearls on television, but now has a retail location in New York. Iridesse, a subsidiary of Tiffany and Company, offers all types of pearls to all budgets from its locations across America.

Source: Author naugros

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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