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 phrase from “conservation as a national duty” identifies the historical context of this source?
“crops are cultivated; animals are domesticated; and metals are mastered”
“join together to consider the question of the conservation and use of … sources of wealth”
“governors of the several states; and gentlemen”
“the natural resources … are in danger”

Explanation:

To identify the phrase that provides historical context, we analyze each option:

• The first option describes general resource use, not specific to the 1908 context.
• The second option focuses on the conference's purpose (conservation), not the historical setting of the speech.
• The third option, "Governors of the several States; and Gentlemen", matches the opening address to the 1908 Conference of Governors, situating the speech in its historical context of a meeting with state governors in 1908.
• The fourth option addresses the resource issue, not the context of the speech's delivery.

Answer:

C. "Governors of the several States; and Gentlemen" (assuming the third option is labeled C; if labels differ, adjust to the correct identifier with the text)