Final answer:
The Northwest Passage is the northern water route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, known for its historical significance and challenges due to Arctic ice. The Middle Passage refers to the forced transatlantic voyage of enslaved Africans to America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Northwest Passage is traditionally sought by explorers as a means to find a more direct route for trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the north of the North American continent. This passage was long sought after because it would offer a quicker path to the Pacific Ocean and thus to the lucrative trade markets in Asia. However, for a long time, this all-water route was considered nonexistent because of the Arctic ice, which made it impassable for much of history. With modern climate changes and ice melting, there are periods when the passage is navigable by sea, although it is still considered a challenging route.
The correct answer to the question "The northwest passage is the route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans" is C. northern water.
Regarding the other question provided, the term 'Middle Passage' refers to the segment of the transatlantic trade in which millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the New World as part of the triangular trade system. Thus, the correct answer for "What was the Middle Passage?" is C. the transatlantic journey that enslaved Africans made to America.