View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens to Lt. Isaac Strain's expeditionary party in 1850 when attempting to locate a potential path at the Isthmus of Darien?
(a) The party identifies two locations deemed viable.
(b) The party is a total loss.
(c) They nearly perishes.
(d) The party is successful with no loss of life.

2. Who offers a solution letting Ferdinand de Lesseps extract himself honorably and gain income from tolls coming in?
(a) H. B. Slaven.
(b) Charles de Lesseps.
(c) Philippe Banau-Varilla.
(d) Pierre Tirard.

3. Ferdinand de Lesseps' second attempt at going public, is the largest financial endeavor yet, with each share ($100) representing a year's income for half of France's working class, but may be bought how?
(a) 25% down, six years to pay the rest.
(b) 25% down, five years to pay the rest.
(c) 50% down, six years to pay the rest.
(d) 25% down, balance in equal monthly payments for three years.

4. Why is it nearly impossible in the early stages of canal construction to maintain an adequate work force?
(a) High illness rate.
(b) Language differences.
(c) High death toll.
(d) Frequent turnover.

5. In July of 1886, Ferdinand de Lesseps requests and gets a vote of confidence, then proposes a Suez-style lottery bond issue to raise how much?
(a) $80 million.
(b) $20 million.
(c) $60 million.
(d) $40 million.

6. Who rebuilds Colon after it goes up in flames, killing 18 and leaving some 8,000 homeless?
(a) "Seabees" (construction battalions of the Civil Engineer Corps of the U.S. Navy).
(b) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
(c) French engineer officials.
(d) Railroad officials.

7. As the U.S. establishes a naval base at Cuba, annexes Hawaii, and acquires Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico, the canal Theodore Roosevelt has been advocating becomes what?
(a) Enormously popular.
(b) Enormously unpopular.
(c) Of concern.
(d) Of minimal concern.

8. For what purpose does Navy Secretary George M. Robeson direct Commander Thomas O. Selfridge to the Isthmus of Darien at Caledonia Bay, some 150 miles to the east of the Panama Canal Railroad on January 10, 1870?
(a) To gather geological and botanical specimens, report on the naratives and climate, and to take astronomical observations.
(b) To gather germanic and botswanic specimens, report on the natives and climate, and to take astronomical observations.
(c) To gather geological and botanical specimens, report on the natives and climate, and to take astrological observations.
(d) To gather geological and botanical specimens, report on the natives and climate, and to take astronomical observations.

9. Which survivors enjoy lifelong immunity from the disease that comes and goes in waves?
(a) Cholera.
(b) Chagres fever.
(c) Malaria.
(d) Yellow fever.

10. Ferdinand de Lesseps is from a family entrenched in the diplomatic services, which he enters at age 19, and he becomes interested in construction of canals when?
(a) In the late 1830s while posted in Venice.
(b) In the late 1820s while posted in Holland.
(c) In the 1840s while posted in Prussia.
(d) In the 1830s while posted in Egypt.

11. The Morgan Committee rejects the Walker Commission recommendations, the Senate debates the issues for two weeks, and Mt. Pelye's explosion and a Nicaraguan stamp turn odds how?
(a) 100-1 odds against Panama into a narrow 42-34 win.
(b) 75-1 odds against Panama into a narrow 42-34 win.
(c) 50-1 odds against Panama into a narrow 42-34 win.
(d) 10-1 odds against Panama into a narrow 42-34 win.

12. Which delegate, so eager not to miss the 1879 Congris International d'Ytudes du Canal Interocyanique opening remarks, leaves his bags behind and has to purchase appropriate attire and call a barber in?
(a) British delegate Sir John Stokes.
(b) Mexican delegate Francisco de Garay.
(c) Dutch delegate Jacob Dirks.
(d) Colombian delegate Pedro Sosa.

13. In just over a decade in Panama, the French spend $287 million and expend how many lives?
(a) Some 12,000.
(b) Some 22,000.
(c) Some 42,000 lives.
(d) Some 32,000 lives.

14. A Compagnie Nouvelle du Canal de Panama is incorporated on October 20, 1894 and the liquidator extends the Wyse Concession through what year?
(a) 1903.
(b) 1902.
(c) 1900.
(d) 1901.

15. Armand Rousseau's report declares abandoning the Panama project will harm French prestige and advocates what?
(a) Continue with the sea-level plan.
(b) Adopt the lottery proposal, but abandon the sea-level plan.
(c) Abandon both the sea-level plan for a lock proposal, and that a lottery is insufficient.
(d) Keep the sea-level plan and adopt the lottery proposal.

Short Answer Questions

1. A Saint Gotthard Tunnel engineer, Ribourt, warned the 1879 Congris International d'Ytudes du Canal Interocyanique that, even 24 hours a day, the Wyse plan including a tunnel would take how long?

2. What is U.S. delegate Admiral Ammen's view of the American canal plan, given at the 1879 Congris International d'Ytudes du Canal Interocyanique, with a 1,900 foot viaduct over the Chagres River, 12 locks at each end, and costing $94.6 million?

3. What promise does Ferdinand de Lesseps keep on January 1, 1880?

4. The liquidator's ordering a halt to work on the Isthmus instigates what among workers and shareholders?

5. After forming his private investment syndicate, Ferdinand de Lesseps next obtains the Wyse Concession when he purchases the Turr Syndicate for $2 million to be paid how?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 882 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample