Passage B
In 1920, after some thirty-nine years of problems with disease, high costs, and politics, the Panama Canal was officially opened, finally linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by allowing ships to pass through the fifty-mile canal zone instead of traveling some seven thousand miles around Cape Horn. It takes a ship approximately 8 hours to complete the trip through the canal and costs an average of fifteen thousand dollars, one-tenth of what it would cost an average ship to round the Horn. More than fifteen thousand ships pass through its locks each year.
The French initiated the project but sold their rights to the United States. The latter will control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama takes over its duties.
Who currently controls the Panama Canal?
根据最后一段最后一句“The latter will control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama takes over its duties.”可知，美国将在20世纪末结束管理权，巴拿马政府成为下一任管理者，因此答案选C。
In about what year will a different government take control of the Panama Canal?
根据全文最后一句“The latter will control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama takes over its duties.”可知，上一任政府将在20世纪末结束它的管理权，下一任政府应该在21世纪开始，即2000年开始接 手巴拿马运河的管理，因此答案选A。
On the average, how much would it cost a ship to travel around Cape Horse?
根据第一段倒数第二句“It takes a ship approximately 8 hours to complete the trip through the canal and costs an average of fifteen thousand dollars, one-tenth of what it would cost an average ship to round the Horn.”可知， 轮船经过平均费用为一万五千美元，是平均船绕角所需费用的十分之一，因此平均价格为十五万美元，答 案选C。
In what year was construction probably begun on the canal?
根据第一段第一句“In 1920,after some thirty-nine years of problems with disease, high costs, and politics, the Panama Canal was officially opened...”可知，1920年是动工后的第39年，所以动工年为1881年，因此答案选 A。
What can be inferred from this reading?
根据第一段第一句“finally linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans”可知，巴拿马运河的开通连接大西洋 和太平洋；第一段最后一句“More than fifteen thousand ships pass through its locks each year.”可知每年有超过一万五千艘船通过它的船闸。因此巴拿马运河的开通虽然有很多困难，但是非常有利，因此答案选B。