REVIEW Plot Stages and Sequence of Events

A typical plot has ______ separate stages of development.

• five

• three

• seven

• two

Learning about these stages will ______ you keep track of what happens in a story.

• help

• jump

• draw

• sing

What does the EXPOSITION stage do in a story?

• A writer introduces the setting and the characters.

• It describes the climax of the story.

• It reveals the resolution of the conflict.

• It focuses on the main problem only.

At the EXPOSITION stage, the writer also reveals the ______, or sets the stage for it.

• conflict

• resolution

• theme

• setting

The conflict is ______.

• the main struggle or problem the characters face.

• the setting of the story.

• the resolution of the story.

• the main character's best friend.

What happens during the RISING ACTION stage?

• Introduces obstacles that make the conflict more complicated. You might have heard this described as the stage where 'the plot thickens.'

• The main conflict is resolved and the story ends.

• The setting and characters are introduced.

• The story reaches its most intense point, often called the climax.

The CLIMAX is ______.

• the turning point in the story and the moment of greatest suspense. It presents the conflict at its most intense and dramatic.

• the introduction of the main characters and setting.

• the resolution where all conflicts are solved.

• the background information provided at the beginning of the story.

What does the FALLING ACTION stage reveal?

• Reveals the outcome of the story's climax. Here, you see how the main character resolves the conflict.

• Introduces the main characters and setting of the story.

• Presents the main conflict for the first time.

• Describes the final resolution and ties up all loose ends.

At the FALLING ACTION stage, the tension created by the conflict and climax is also ______.

• relieved

• increased

• ignored

• created

What does the RESOLUTION stage show in a story?

• Shows the story's final outcome. At this stage, the writer ties up any loose ends. Sometimes this stage might offer up an unexpected twist before the story ends.

• Introduces the main characters and setting of the story.

• Describes the main conflict and rising action in the story.

• Presents the climax, or the turning point, of the story.