ANSWER ALL THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT MAIN IDEA? To understand how New Orleans became one of the most diverse cities in America, one must learn about its early history. The city was founded on May 7, 1718 as a French colony. It soon established itself as an important trading port. The colony was then ceded to the Spanish Empire in 1763.
In 1801, New Orleans reverted again to French control but only for two years. In 1803, Napoleon, who was then the Emperor of France, sold the territory to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. Thereafter, the city grew rapidly with influxes of Americans, French, Creoles, Irish, Germans, and Africans.
Because of New Orleans' prime location as a port on the Gulf of Mexico, the city played a large role in the Atlantic slave trade. At the same time, it had the largest and most prosperous community of free African Americans in the nation. They were often educated and middle-class property owners. In 1872, an African-American man named P. B.S. Pinchback became governor of Louisiana, making him the first non-white governor of a U. S. state.
Today, visitors to New Orleans can witness firsthand the cultural diversity that makes the city unique. Locals speak with an accent that cannot be heard elsewhere. It reminds one of the city's French, Spanish, and African influences. Additionally, visitors can still see examples of early French Architecture in the French Quarter. These ornate buildings date back to the 18th Century, when the city was technically under Spanish control.

23. What is paragraph 3 mostly about?
a. the horrible way in which African slaves were treated
b .how P. B.S. Pinchback became the governor of Louisiana
c. the advantages of New Orleans' location on the Gulf of Mexico
d. the roles that African-Americans played in New Orleans' history

24. What is the main idea of this passage?
a. Due to its history, New Orleans is a diverse city.
b. Citizens of New Orleans speak with a French accent.
c. New Orleans was the first city with a non-white mayor.
d. New Orleans architecture reminds us of its history.

25. What is the main point of paragraph 4?
a. The French and Spanish still have control over parts of the city.
b. The cultures that once made New Orleans unique have left.
c. The English language is rarely spoken by New Orleans' inhabitants.
d. New Orleans' diverse history is evident to visitors today.