1. Rio Chagres (the river that became the Panama Canal)
was liable to sudden flooding.
The flooding multiplied the river's
flow a hundred times in a few hours.
Rio
Chagres (the river that became the Panama Canal) was liable to sudden flooding
which
multiplied the river's flow a hundred times in a few hours.
2. The plan for a sea-level canal was changed into
a canal with locks.
This presented various problems.
The problems were finally
solved by the Americans.
When
the plan for a sea-level canal had been changed into a canal with locks
it presented
various problems which were finally solved by the Americans.
3. A huge dam was to be built on Gamboa.
The dam would hold the water
coming down from the hills.
A huge dam, which would hold the water coming down from the hills, was built on Gamboa.
4. Headquarters were set up at Panama and Colon.
After that the work itself
began.
Before the work itself began, headquarters were set up at Panama and Colon.
5. The 40,000 workers on the Canal included the French
painter Gauguin.
He toiled with a shovel
for a few months in 1886.
The
40,000 workers on the Canal included the French painter Gauguin,
who toiled with a shovel for a few months in 1886.
6. Ferdinand de Lesseps was the main manager
of the work on the Panama Canal.
Philippe Bunau-Varilla,
25, is responsible for finishing the project.
Although
Ferdinand de Lesseps was the main manager of the work on the Panama Canal,
Philippe Bunau-Varilla, 25, is responsible for finishing the project.
7. de Lesseps was in charge of the project.
Ironically, according to
Bunau-Varilla, de Lesseps "was not an engineer and did not like
engineers."
Although
de Lesseps was in charge of the project, ironically, according to Bunau-Varilla,
de Lesseps "was not an engineer and did not like engineers."
8. The workers were controlled by a supervisory staff
of 700 Europeans.
Unfortunately, they had
to be frequently replaced.
The workers were controlled by a supervisory staff of 700
Europeans, who unfortunately
had to be frquently replaced.
9. The canal was finally opened in 1915.
The canal is 50 miles long.
The canal, which is 50 miles long, was finally opened in 1915.
Answer Key
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