Final answer:
A civil trial would most likely try to answer a question about accountability for damage or harm, such as a defendant's liability for a pet's behavior in a business.
Step-by-step explanation:
A civil trial is likely to address questions related to accountability and reparations rather than the criminal guilt of a defendant. Therefore, the question a civil trial would most likely try to answer is A. Is the defendant accountable for the mess her dog made inside a local business? This question involves determining liability and potentially awarding damages, which fits the civil trial context where the burden of proof is based on a preponderance of the evidence. Options B and C are more likely to be addressed in a criminal or appellate court, as they involve the fairness of a sentence and procedural matters, respectively, while D could be involved in either a civil or a criminal case but is not as clearly a civil matter as A.