Which component is the incident that introduces the central conflict and may occur before the story opens?

• A. Falling action
• B. Climax
• C. Initiating event
• D. Resolution

Answer: (C)

Stories hinge on a spark that triggers the central conflict—the incident that sets the plot in motion. This initiating event introduces the main problem and can even occur before the story starts, shaping what the characters will face and what actions follow. That moment is the reason the passage moves forward, pulling us into the unfolding drama.

Falling action happens after the peak of tension, as the story moves toward closure. The climax is the high point of conflict, the turning moment, not the initial trigger. The resolution comes at the end, showing how everything is settled. These parts occur after the initiating event and describe what happens as the conflict is faced and resolved.