The road map of the case best describes which part of a trial?

• A. direct testimony
• B. closing arguments
• C. opening statement
• D. subpoena service method

Answer: (C)

Opening statements lay out the road map for the trial, outlining the facts each side intends to prove, the order in which witnesses and exhibits will appear, and the theory of the case. This sets the framework for the jury so they know what to expect as the evidence is presented, without presenting substantive evidence themselves. Direct testimony, by contrast, is the actual sworn statements a witness gives under examination, not a plan of how the case will unfold. Closing arguments happen after all the evidence is in and are used to summarize what was proven and persuade the jury, rather than to describe the trial's structure. Subpoena service method is a procedural step for obtaining witness appearances or documents, not part of describing the case's progression.