Question

which excerpt from part one of trifles most develops the motives of the county attorney?
○ county attorney. somebody should have been left here yesterday.
○ county attorney. how did she seem to feel about your coming?
○ county attorney. (to the sheriff.) youre convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive?
○ county attorney (with the gallantry of a young politician). and yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?

Explanation:

To determine which excerpt develops the County Attorney's motives, we analyze each option:

• The first option ("Somebody should have been left here yesterday") is about oversight, not motives.
• The second option ("How did she seem to feel...") is about gathering info on a witness's feelings, not his motives.
• The third option ("You're convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive?") directly relates to his motive of finding evidence of a motive for the crime, as he is investigating and seeking clues about the case's motive.
• The fourth option ("And yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?") is a gallant remark, not about his investigative motives.

So the excerpt that focuses on his motive to find evidence of a motive for the crime is the third one.

Answer:

COUNTY ATTORNEY. (To the Sheriff.) You're convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive?