Identifying the Central Idea
Which statement best summarizes the main idea of the
passage?
When most people think of the antebellum South, they
envision ornate mansions surrounded by lush gardens,
slave cabins, cotton gins or sugar mills, and other
outbuildings. Louisiana had many of these plantation
complexes, although few were as grand as fiction has
portrayed them. The largest complexes were mainly self-
sufficient, in that slaves produced and manufactured
most of the food, clothing, and goods needed on the
plantation. Even smaller holdings usually had at least one
slave carpenter or blacksmith. Most plantations also
reserved one field for growing corn, the basis of the diet
for both slaves and livestock.
-"Antebellum Louisiana II: Agrarian Life,"
Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and
Tourism
O Plantations of the antebellum period were largely
self-sufficient.
O The impressions most people have of antebellum
Southern plantations are false.
O Most plantations of the antebellum period were
lavish mansions.
O Smaller plantations relied on cooperation with
larger complexes to survive.