Question

Read the excerpt from Monster.

Based on this dialogue, what can the reader infer?
PETROCELLI
Then he must have lied, is that right?
O This is Petrocelli's first time acting as the prosecuting
attorney in a court of law.
O'BRIEN
Objection. The prosecution is soliciting an argument.
O Mr. Harmon knows where he was during the day of
the robbery.
PETROCELLI
• It is a rule of the court that a
lawyer may not argue
Withdrawn. Mr. Harmon, you say you weren't at the
with someone during questioning.
drugstore anytime during the day of the robbery.
Perhaps you would tell us where you were.
O Petrocelli has not been a trial lawyer as long as
O'Brien has.

Answer 1

The reader can infer from the dialogue that Petrocelli is acting as the prosecuting attorney for the first time in a court of law. O'Brien objects to Petrocelli's statement, suggesting that Petrocelli lacks experience as a trial lawyer. O'Brien's objection also implies that O'Brien has more experience than Petrocelli.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reader can infer from the dialogue that Petrocelli is acting as the prosecuting attorney for the first time in a court of law.

This can be inferred from Petrocelli's comment, 'It is a rule of the court that a lawyer may not argue with someone during questioning,' which suggests that Petrocelli is not familiar with this rule and therefore lacks experience as a trial lawyer.

Another inference that can be made is that O'Brien, the defense lawyer, has more experience than Petrocelli, as O'Brien objects to Petrocelli's statement, indicating that Petrocelli is soliciting an argument.