Quiz on the Panama Canal

What is the Panama Canal?

• A railroad through Panama

• A man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

• A natural river between two oceans

• A road through Panama

Why did the French fail to build the Panama Canal?

• They didn't have the right technology

• They faced diseases like malaria and yellow fever, along with financial problems

• They didn't have enough workers

• They lost a war

Who took over the Panama Canal project after the French?

• The British

• The Spanish

• The United States

• The Panamanian government

When did the United States complete the Panama Canal?

• 1881

• 1914

• 1903

• 1920

How does the Panama Canal work?

• It uses tunnels to move ships

• It uses a system of locks to raise and lower ships

• It has bridges for ships to cross over land

• It works like a waterfall

Who was Theodore Roosevelt?

• The president of Panama

• The French engineer in charge of the canal

• The U.S. president who supported Panama's independence and secured the rights to build the canal

• The chief engineer of the Panama Canal

What treaty gave the U.S. control over the canal project?

• The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty

• The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty

• The Mallarino-Bidlack Treaty

• The Torrijos-Carter Treaty

What year did Panama gain independence from Colombia with U.S. help?

• 1846

• 1914

• 1903

• 1855

Who was Colonel William Gorgas?

• The chief engineer of the Panama Canal

• The French leader who failed to build the canal

• The U.S. official who led efforts to control diseases like yellow fever during the canal's construction

• The president of Panama

What was the main reason the U.S. wanted to build the canal?

• To control Panama

• To help ships avoid sailing around South America

• To connect Europe and Asia

• To explore the Pacific Ocean