A large company has been convicted of engaging in monopolistic

A large company has been convicted of engaging in monopolistic practices. The penalty imposed on the company will probably have little if any effect on its behavior. Still, the trial was worthwhile, since it provided useful information about the company’s practices. After all, this information has emboldened the company’s direct competitors, alerted potential rivals, and forced the company to restrain its unfair behavior toward customers and competitors.

Boil it down-
A large company has been convicted of engaging in monopolistic practices-> Background information. There has been a conviction.
The penalty imposed on the company will probably have little if any effect on its behavior-> Opposing point. Do not expect the conviction to change behavior.
Still, the trial was worthwhile, since it provided useful information about the company’s practices. ->Turnaround word "still" which, when following an opposing point, almost always introduces evidence or the conclusion. We get another indicator word, "since," which tells us that what follows it is offered in support of what came before it. That makes the first part of this line a conclusion and the second part evidence.
After all, this information has emboldened the company’s direct competitors, alerted potential rivals, and forced the company to restrain its unfair behavior toward customers and competitors.-> "After all" indicates a continuation, and since what came before it is a premise, we know this line to be a premise as well, making the first part of line 3 the main conclusion.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the overall conclusion drawn in the argument?


(A) Even if the company had not been convicted of engaging in monopolistic practices, the trial probably would have had some effect on the company’s behavior. - Incorrect

(B) The light shed on the company’s practices by the trial has emboldened its competitors, alerted potential rivals, and forced the company to restrain its unfair behavior. -incorrect; supports the main conclusion

(C) The penalty imposed on the company will likely have little or no effect on its behavior. - Incorrect

(D) The company’s trial on charges of engaging in monopolistic practices was worthwhile. - Correct

(E) The penalty imposed on the company in the trial should have been larger. - Out of scope

Answer D