Question

conservation as a national duty, 1908
by theodore roosevelt
in this speech, president roosevelt speaks to the 1908 conference of governors. he discusses the issue of conservation and the preservation of natural resources, arguing that this issue should be a priority for the nation’s leaders.
governors of the several states; and gentlemen:
i welcome you to this conference at the white house. you have come hither at my request, so that we may join together to consider the question of the conservation and use of the great fundamental sources of wealth of this nation....
it is the chief material question that confronts us, second only—and second always—to the great fundamental questions of morality....
this conference on the conservation of natural resources is in effect a meeting of the representatives of all the people of the united states called to consider the weightiest problem now before the nation; and the occasion for the meeting lies in the fact that the natural resources of our country are in danger of exhaustion if we permit the old wasteful methods of exploiting them longer to continue....
savages, and very primitive peoples generally, concern themselves
which argument does the speech “conservation as a national duty” best support?
natural resources will last forever.
natural resources are not in danger.
natural resources are not useful.
natural resources should be protected.

Explanation:

The speech "Conservation as a National Duty" by Theodore Roosevelt focuses on conservation and preservation of natural resources, stating they are in danger of exhaustion with wasteful exploitation. So it supports that natural resources should be protected. The other options are incorrect: natural resources don't last forever (contradicts the speech's concern about exhaustion), they are in danger (so "not in danger" is wrong), and they are useful (as they are "great fundamental sources of wealth", so "not useful" is wrong).

Answer:

D. Natural resources should be protected. (assuming the last option is D; if options are labeled differently, adjust the identifier but the text is "Natural resources should be protected")