Colour pencil, black pencil Indian pencil, Chinese pencil...just name it. We all may have grown out of our fancy for pencils but very few have actually stopped using them. But how much do you know about this important writing tool? Take the rediff business quiz to find out.
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1. The word Pencil is derived from Pencillus which means... a) Little tail b) Writing c) Point
Wrong! Try again.
Wrong! The correct answer is Little tail. Pencil, a derivative of the Latin word pencillus for 'little tail', originally described a small, fine, pointed brush.
Correct! Pencil, a derivative of the Latin word pencillus for 'little tail', originally described a small, fine, pointed brush.
2. Who invented the pencil? a) Faber-Castell b) Staedtler c) Eagle Pencil Co
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Wrong! The correct answer is Faber-Castell. Faber-Castell is the world's major manufacturer of wood-cased pencils and operates the largest pencil factory of the world in Sao Carlos, Brazil. Faber-Castell, a German company for writing instruments was founded in 1761 in Nuremberg by Kaspar Faber.
Correct! Faber-Castell is the world's major manufacturer of wood-cased pencils and operates the largest pencil factory of the world in Sao Carlos, Brazil. Faber-Castell, a German company for writing instruments was founded in 1761 in Nuremberg by Kaspar Faber.
3. Which is the largest pencil company in India? a) Camlin b) Hindustan Pencils c) Emma International
Wrong! Try again.
Wrong! The correct answer is Hindustan Pencils. Hindustan Pencils is the largest pencil manufacturing company in India. Established in 1958, the company manufactures upto 5.25 million pencils, 0.80 million sharpeners, 1.75 million erasers and 0.12 million scales daily. Today its brands 'Apsara' and 'Nataraj' are household names.
Correct! Hindustan Pencils is the largest pencil manufacturing company in India. Established in 1958, the company manufactures upto 5.25 million pencils, 0.80 million sharpeners, 1.75 million erasers and 0.12 million scales daily. Today its brands 'Apsara' and 'Nataraj' are household names.
4. Which country was the source of the world's first graphite pencils? a) England b) Germany c) Italy
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Wrong! The correct answer is England. Keswick in England has the distinction of producing the world's first graphite pencils. The first pencils ever made were manufactured at Keswick following the discovery of graphite in the Seathwaite Valley. The Cumberland Pencil Company manufactures the world famous Derwent Fine Art pencils. These are used by professional and leisure artists Keswick also has the Cumberland Pencil Museum which traces the fascinating history of pencils.
Correct! Keswick in England has the distinction of producing the world's first graphite pencils. The first pencils ever made were manufactured at Keswick following the discovery of graphite in the Seathwaite Valley. The Cumberland Pencil Company manufactures the world famous Derwent Fine Art pencils. These are used by professional and leisure artists Keswick also has the Cumberland Pencil Museum which traces the fascinating history of pencils.
5. Who was awarded the patent for attaching an eraser to a pencil? a) Lyndiana Bernacotti b) Hyman Lipman c) Kaspar Faber
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is Hyman Lipman. The first patent for attaching an eraser to a pencil was issued in 1858 to Hyman Lipman from Philadelphia. Initially, pencils did not have erasers attached to them. Later, pencil manufacturers started attaching erasers to pencils. This patent was later held to be invalid because it was just a combination of two things.
Correct! The first patent for attaching an eraser to a pencil was issued in 1858 to Hyman Lipman from Philadelphia. Initially, pencils did not have erasers attached to them. Later, pencil manufacturers started attaching erasers to pencils. This patent was later held to be invalid because it was just a combination of two things.