What does a high tensile strength indicate about a material?

A high tensile strength indicates that a material can withstand significant stretching without breaking or deforming. Tensile strength measures how much force a material can withstand while being pulled or stretched; thus, materials with high tensile strength are more capable of enduring applied forces without structural failure. This characteristic is particularly important in applications where materials are subject to tension, such as in cables, beams, and structural components, allowing them to function effectively under load.

In contrast, the other options do not relate directly to tensile strength. The ability to be easily compressed pertains to compressive strength, not tensile strength. Resistance to thermal changes relates to a material's thermal properties, while conductivity is associated with the capacity of a material to conduct electricity or heat. These aspects do not directly connect to how well a material can resist being pulled apart, which is the essence of high tensile strength.