Which term denotes the main struggle or problem between opposing forces?

• A. Conflict
• B. Plot
• C. Theme
• D. Inference

Answer: (A)

Conflict is the main struggle or problem between opposing forces in a story. It’s what creates tension and drives the action, whether the clash is between a character and another person, a character and nature, a character and society, or a character and their own fears and doubts. This struggle is what sparks decisions, obstacles, and turning points, pulling the plot forward as the characters try to resolve it.

Plot is the sequence of events that happen as the characters respond to the conflict, while theme is the underlying message or idea the author wants to convey, and inference is what the reader figures out from clues in the text. So the central idea—the core struggle that sets everything in motion—is conflict.