Question

these two excerpts from the text illustrate
a the complicated legal procedures businesses had to follow to acquire their business licenses.
b rockefellers habit of discrediting journalists who challenged his business practices.
c tarbells sense of balanced reporting by pointing out both the positives and negatives of standard oil.
d the fallout standard oil experienced when it was proven that its product was substandard.
excerpt 1
excerpt 2
despite all of standard oils faults, tarbell also pointed out the companys \legitimate greatness.\ as she acknowledged, \something besides illegal advantages had gone into the making of the standard oil trust. this huge bulk, blackened by commercial sin, was strong in all great business qualities--in energy, in intelligence, in dauntlessness.\

Explanation:

The excerpt explicitly notes Standard Oil's "faults" (negatives) while also recognizing its "legitimate greatness" and strong business qualities (positives), which directly matches the description of balanced reporting in option C. The other options are not supported by the provided text.

Answer:

C. Tarbell's sense of balanced reporting by pointing out both the positives and negatives of Standard Oil.