Who built the first canal? Perhaps some people long ago, living in dry country, discovered that they could dig ditches (沟壑) (irrigate) their fields with the river water. And naturally in the days boats were the most important means of transport, canals were the easiest means of reaching a place. Furthermore, a ditch (join) two rivers proved efficient for boat travel.
Today, most countries in the world have canals. Even in the 2lst century, goods can be moved more (convenient) by boat than by some other means of transport. Some canals, such as the Suez or the Panama, (save) ships weeks of time by making their voyage a thousand miles (short). Other canals permit boats to reach cities that (situate) inland. Still other canals drain lands where there is too much water. Help farmers irrigate fields without enough water, and provide water power for (factory) as well.
Most of the canals have a long history. Canals existed in Egypt thousands of years ago. And the Grand Canal of China was begun about 2, 500 years ago and took centuries to finish. During the seventeenth century, France built many canals that are still use today.
