Final answer:
The burning of the village by the first Roanoke colonists was due to escalated conflict with Native Americans, aggravated by the spread of disease and overtaxing of local resources. Option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on historical accounts of the first Roanoke colony and the interactions between the English and the Native Americans, it is evident that the village was burned down due to a conflict with Native Americans.
The Roanoke English colonists, primarily soldiers, lacked diplomatic skills and often engaged in violent acts that jeopardized relations with local tribes, like the Secotan.
The growing tensions were further inflamed by the English's inadvertent spreading of European diseases like smallpox and influenza, to which the natives had no immunity, leading to widespread death among the indigenous population.
The devastating effects of illness, combined with the English's heavy reliance on Secotan food supplies during times when the natives needed to conserve resources for winter, culminated in increased conflict, ultimately contributing to the burning of the village.
So Option b is correct.