USA HISTORY

Before the canal was built, ships making the trip from New York City to San Francisco had to travel 15, 000 miles. After the construction of the canal, the trip was shortened to 6, 000 miles. Choose the effect that would MOST LIKELY result from this:

(A) Fewer ships could make the trip-decreasing trade and America’s economic power.

(B) There would be no effect.

(C) ** More ships could make the trip-increasing trade and America’s economic power.

Concept note-1: -Through the Canal, a vessel sailing from New York to San Francisco could cut its journey from more than 13, 000 miles around South America and Cape Horn, to just over 5, 000. A voyage that previously took over sixty days was halved to about thirty.

Concept note-2: -The distance from New York to San Francisco by way of the Straits of Magellan is 13, 135 nautical miles, by way of Panama 5, 262 miles, the canal route being 7, 873 miles shorter Between New Orleans and San Francisco, the saving in distance is still greater-8, 868 nautical miles.

Concept note-3: -The route used before the construction of the Panama canal was to travel round the “Cape Horn” (located in southernmost tip of South America), covering a distance of approximately 24, 000 Kms. (San Francisco to New York). This travel takes approximately a month.

Concept note-4: -The author states the Panama Canal is a phenomenon that is an unusual or significant fact or event. It is a phenomenon because before it was built sailing by ship from ocean to ocean was a dangerous 15000 mile journey that took months. After it was built, the route was 8000 miles shorter.