Read the excerpt from the awakening, and look at the plot diagram.

since the age of fifteen, which was eleven years before, robert each summer at grand isle had constituted himself the devoted attendant of some fair dame or damsel. sometimes it was a young girl, again a widow, but as often as not it was some interesting married woman.

where does this excerpt best fit on the novel’s plot diagram?
falling action
resolution
exposition
rising action

The correct answer is: Exposition.

The background information is given, the author introduces Robert (one of the characters) to the story and tells us some of his characteristics, present or past. This information will be usefull throughout the story.

In the excerpt we can't any trace of a conflict yet, this means the answer is not rising action. It doesn't show any past climax that is starting to solve as it only gives characteristics of a character, therefore rising action is incorrect to. If we don't have any conflict yet, there can't be any resolution either.

the answer is five curious-looking beans