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 statement best describes the main idea of “conservation as a national duty” by president theodore roosevelt?
the united states should work to protect its natural resources.
conservation is not a major priority at this period in history.
becoming a civilized nation tends to be more harmful than helpful.
the native people of this nation use natural resources in a limited way.

Explanation:

The speech by Theodore Roosevelt focuses on conservation of natural resources and argues it should be a national priority. The first option states the US should protect natural resources, which aligns with the speech's main idea. The other options contradict the speech (e.g., the second says conservation isn't a priority, third is about civilization's harm, fourth about native people's resource use—neither match the main focus on national conservation duty).

Answer:

The United States should work to protect its natural resources.