That example points to an important general  Total expenditure is determined by the value of the prize, whether we're talking about presidential campaigns or state lotteries.
( ( ( That ( example points ) ) ( to ( an ( important ( general ( Total expenditure ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( is ( ( ( determined ( by ( ( the value ) ( of ( the prize ) ) ) ) ) , ) ( whether ( we ( 're ( talking ( about ( presidential ( campaigns ( or ( state lotteries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT That) (NN example) (NNS points)) (PP (TO to) (NP (DT an) (JJ important) (JJ general) (JJ Total) (NN expenditure)))) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN determined) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN value)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN prize))))) (, ,) (SBAR (IN whether) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP 're) (VP (VBG talking) (PP (IN about) (NP (JJ presidential) (NNS campaigns) (CC or) (NN state) (NNS lotteries))))))))) (. .)))
They wanted to show it was valid in different situations.
( They ( ( wanted ( to ( show ( it ( was ( valid ( in ( different situations ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBD wanted) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB show) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ valid) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ different) (NNS situations))))))))))) (. .)))