Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Subject Area Practice Test

Which landform is most suitable for building a canal to connect two large bodies of water?

1. Bay

2. River

3. Strait

4. Lake

The correct answer is: Strait

The most suitable landform for building a canal to connect two large bodies of water is a strait. A strait is a naturally occurring narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water, making it an ideal location for a canal. By building a canal in a strait, engineers can take advantage of the existing waterway to facilitate transportation, navigation, and trade between the two larger bodies of water. While bays, rivers, and lakes each have their own characteristics, they do not provide the same direct connection between larger water bodies as a strait does. Bays are more enclosed and may not connect directly to larger bodies of water, making them less suitable for creating a canal. Similarly, rivers flow in a particular direction and may not easily allow for a canal to connect large bodies of water that are not aligned with the river’s flow. Lakes, on the other hand, are typically isolated from other water bodies, and while canals can connect lakes to other lakes or rivers, a strait inherently provides a ready-made connection that simplifies construction and navigation.