Final answer:
In a trial, cross-examination happens after jury selection and opening statements, but before closing arguments and verdict announcement. It's a critical phase where the opposing party challenges the testimony of witnesses. The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question "During a trial, the ________ happens before the closing statement, but after the jury selection." is b) Cross-examination. After the jury selection, the trial proceeds with the opening statements from both the prosecution and the defense. This is followed by the direct examination of witnesses by the party that called them.
After each witness is examined, the opposing party has the opportunity to conduct cross-examination. This is done to challenge the testimony of the witness and is a critical aspect of the adversarial system. The cross-examination occurs before the closing statements are made. After both sides have presented their cases and made their closing arguments, the jury is instructed by the judge and deliberation begins, ultimately leading to a verdict announcement.