Passage B
In 1920, after some thirty-nine years of problems with disease, high costs, and politics, 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 eight 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 right to the United States. The latter would control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama took over its duties.
Who currently controls the Panama Canal?
由全文最后一句话“The latter would control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama took over its duties”可以看出，二十世纪末开始巴拿马就会开始控制巴拿马运河。因此，本题的正确答案为B。
In approximately what did a different government take control of the Panama Canal?
全文最后一句话“The latter would control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama took over its duties”指出，二十世纪末开始巴拿马就会开始控制巴拿马运河，也就是在2000年左右会有一个不同的政府 接管巴拿马运河。因此，本题的正确答案为A。
On the average, how much would it cost a ship to travel around Cape Horn?
由文章第一段倒数第二句话“It takes a ship approximately eight hours to complete the trip through the canal and costs an average of fifteen thousand dollars”可知，通过巴拿马运河的费用大约是15,000美元，而这是从合 恩角航行的费用的十分之一左右，所以从合恩角航行需要花费150,000美元。因此，本题的正确答案为C。
In what year was construction probably begun on the canal?
从文章第一句话“In 1920, after some thirty-nine years of problems with disease, high costs, and politics”可以 看出，经过39年的施工之后，巴拿马运河在1920年竣工，可以推断出巴拿马运河的修建大约开始于1881 年。因此，本题的正确答案为A。
What can be inferred from this reading?
由文章可以看出，虽然巴拿马运河的修建时间长且过程非常坎坷，但是修建成功之后可以大幅减少船 只航行的成本，说明巴拿马运河是一项有利的工程。因此，本题的正确答案为B。