A block rests on an inclined plane with enough friction to prevent it from sliding down. To start the block moving, is it easier to push it up the plane or down the plane?

It will be easier to push the block down, because once the block starts moving down, the kinetic coefficient of friction starts acting and the block can go down with even less force than we started pushing it down with, but if we push the block up gravity will act against us every step of the way. So, it is easier to push the block down the plane as gravity  helps.

So option 1 is correct.