The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal was built on the narrowest section of land separating the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. How long is the canal passage?

• 5 miles

• 20 miles

• 50 miles

• 200 miles

The Panama Canal was almost built somewhere else. Where was the canal first planned to be built?

• Nicaragua

• Guatamala

• Beliz

• El Salvador

The Panama Canal would have been built somewhere else if it were not for:

• millions of dollars donated by the US

• a stamp

• a post office

• a treaty with the Panama peoples

Now that it is built and operational, about how many ships pass through the canal each year?

• 1,400

• 41,000

• 14,000

• 14 million

The "watery staircase" that lifts ships up and down through the canal is actually a series of ___________.

• rivers

• locks

• bridges

• channels

The canal ended up being built in Panama instead because of the threat of ____________.

• flooding

• hurricanes

• war

• volcanos

The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway. Which two oceans does it connect?

• the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

• the Pacific and Indian Oceans

• the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans

• the Southern and Pacific Oceans

The text describes some effects of the construction of the Panama Canal. What is one of these effects?

• It increased the travel time of cargo ships moving between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

• It increased the expenses involved with moving cargo ships between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

• It cut down the travel time of cargo ships moving between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

• It decreased the number of people who moved from North America to South America.

The Panama Canal is important to different countries. Which information from the text best supports this conclusion?

• The Panama Canal was built during a time of limited technological capabilities.

• An isthmus is a very narrow strip of land that is situated between two larger landmasses.

• The Panama Canal's construction required 45,000 workers at its peak.

• The Panama Canal remains crucial for international trade.

What is the main idea of this text?

• The Panama Canal is a waterway that was constructed to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cutting travel time and expenses.

• The construction of the Panama Canal required innovative engineering and involved dangers such as poisonous snakes and mudslides.

• It is estimated that a cross continental trip from New York to northern California took 5 months longer prior to the Panama Canal.

• An isthmus is a very narrow strip of land that is situated between larger landmasses.