Which term refers to the ordering of events in a narrative?

• A. Allusion
• B. Setting
• C. Plot
• D. Characterization

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is how the events of a story are arranged over time. The term for that organization of actions and events, including the cause-and-effect links that connect them, is plot. The plot shapes the story by presenting what happens first, what comes next, and how the events lead to a resolution, which is why it’s central to understanding a narrative’s flow. Setting, by contrast, refers to where and when the story takes place and doesn’t capture the sequence of actions. Allusion is a referenced hint to something outside the story, and characterization is about how the characters are depicted and developed. For example, a mystery novel’s plot would lay out clues, discoveries, and turning points in a specific order to create suspense and reveal the solution.