The Panama Canal connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, as stated in option [B]. It serves as a vital passage for international maritime trade, allowing ships to bypass the lengthy and perilous journey around the southern tip of South America. This engineering marvel dramatically reduces transit times and costs, facilitating global commerce between the eastern and western hemispheres. Completed in 1914, the canal’s strategic significance remains paramount in modern shipping, making it one of the world’s most crucial waterways. Its construction and operation have had profound impacts on global trade, geopolitics, and economic development, shaping the course of history in the 20th and 21st centuries.