The following problem gave me headache. I got this one wrong, but I think it's just the problem is so ambiguous. I know I'm not very good with English, but I'm not that bad.
In 1920, after some thirty nine years of problems with disease, high costs and politics, the Panama Canal was officially opened, finally linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by allowing ships to pass through the fifty-mile canal zone 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 and 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 rights to the united states, which actually began the construction of the project. The latter will control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama takes over its duties.
The Problem: Who currently controls the Panama Canal ? (A) France (B) United States (C) Panama (D) Canal Zone
My answer: C. Panama
Key Answer: B. United States
My reasoning Look at the last sentence. According to this sentence, the Panama Canal currently is controlled by Panama, since we live in 2021. But this sentence also tells us that the text was written before Panama took over the control. So, at the time this text was written, the answer is ofcourse United States.
The problem doesn't mention anything about when "currently" is. Is this based on the text or our current time? Nobody knows. I mean, nobody sure about. Or is it just me?
Does this problem really have a correct answer that is timeless or it depends on the date we answer it? Or this problem really is just ambiguous, like I said.