History: Incredible Achievements 2

– The Panama Canal –

“In the early 20th century, the remarkable feat of the construction of the Panama Canal represented an unprecedented engineering marvel outside of Europe. Initiated by the United States in 1904, after the unsuccessful attempt by France in the late 19th century, the canal fundamentally transformed global trade routes by bridging the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The execution of this colossal project presented unique challenges, such as the harsh tropical climate, the need to shift massive quantities of earth, and the combat against endemic diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Led by Chief Engineer John F. Stevens and later George Washington Goethals, an international workforce of approximately 75,000 labored strenuously to overcome these obstacles.

After a decade of work, the Panama Canal was officially opened on August 15, 1914, signaling an unparalleled human achievement in global infrastructure. The 51-mile canal became a crucial conduit for international maritime trade and significantly reduced the time taken for ships to travel between the two oceans, reinforcing the strategic importance of the Panama Canal for global commerce.”

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.

The Panama Canal is an exceptional _______ triumph, achieved by bridging two major oceans.
The project was commenced by the United States following a prior unsuccessful _______ by France.
The _______ project involved the movement of an enormous volume of earth and the tackling of diseases like malaria.
The Canal was crucial in altering global trade _______ by providing a faster route between the Atlantic and Pacific
Approximately 75,000 workers from different countries _______ arduously to complete the construction of the canal.
The completion of the canal significantly _______ the duration required for ships to voyage between the two oceans.

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.

In the dawn of the 20th century, the _______ construction of the Panama Canal marked a significant milestone in global infrastructure. This monumental project, initiated post a French failure, confronted multiple _______ such as an inhospitable tropical climate and rampant diseases. Under the leadership of prominent engineers, a diverse workforce of roughly 75,000 was mobilized, striving relentlessly to bring the project to _______. Unveiled officially in 1914, the 51-mile long canal revolutionized international maritime _______ by creating a time-efficient corridor between the two oceans, amplifying the canal’s _______ importance in global trade. Thus, the Panama Canal stands as an embodiment of unparalleled human _______.

Vocabulary Builder

Find the synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) to these 9 words from the original passage.

Original Word	Variants Used
remarkable	_______________________ / _______________________
construction	_______________________
project	_______________________
challenges	_______________________
led	_______________________
workforce	_______________________
opened	_______________________
crucial	_______________________ / _______________________
human achievement	_______________________

Reveal answer (9 More Words)

Original Word	Variants Used
remarkable	exceptional, extraordinary
construction	building
project	endeavor
challenges	obstacles
led	under the leadership
workforce	workers
opened	unveiled
crucial	vital, time-efficient
human achievement	human triumph