Final answer:
Hispanics made up the majority of the total population of residents in New Mexico in the 2000 federal census.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 2000 federal census, the ethnic group that made up a majority of the total population of residents in New Mexico was Hispanics (Option 3).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Hispanic or Latino population in New Mexico was 48.5 percent at that time. This means that more than half of the total population in New Mexico was comprised of Hispanics.
This statistic is consistent with the fact that New Mexico has a strong Hispanic heritage, and the state's population has a significant Hispanic presence, which contributes to it being known as a "minority-majority" state.