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RAS question

Consider the following statements about the Panama Canal: 1. It uses a lock system to lift ships over the Continental Divide. 2. The canal was built by France and later completed by the USA. 3. The canal was opened to traffic in 1914. 4. Panama gained full control of the canal in 1999. Which of the above statements are correct?

Correct answer: (C) All four statements are correct.

All four statements about the Panama Canal are correct: it uses locks to take ships over the Continental Divide, France began the project before the United States completed it, it opened in 1914, and Panama gained full control in 1999.

  1. (A)

    1 and 3 only

  2. (B)

    1, 2, and 3 only

  3. (C)

    All four statements are correct

  4. (D)

    2, 3, and 4 only

Explanation

The Panama Canal is a lock-type canal, so ships are not simply sailing through a sea-level trench. Britannica explains that the route uses locks to lift vessels to Gatun Lake, carries them through the Gaillard Cut across the Continental Divide, and then lowers them again toward the Pacific side. Its history also fits the sequence in the question: a French company led by Ferdinand de Lesseps began work in 1881 but failed, after which the United States took over and completed the canal in 1914. Control changed later under the canal treaties framework: after a joint phase from 1979, complete control passed to Panama at noon on December 31, 1999. Therefore, statements 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all correct.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) It leaves out statements 2 and 4, even though France began the canal project before the United States completed it, and Panama received complete control on December 31, 1999.
  • (B) It omits statement 4, but Britannica states that complete control of the canal passed to Panama at noon on December 31, 1999.
  • (D) It omits statement 1, although the canal's design depends on locks that lift vessels to Gatun Lake and carry them through the Gaillard Cut across the Continental Divide.

Concept

This tests the geography of major world canals together with the political history of strategic transport corridors. RAS often asks such questions because a single canal links relief, engineering, trade routes and sovereignty.

Source

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