Final answer:
The rising action is longer than the falling action because it develops the story's conflict, introduces complications, and builds tension up to the climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rising action in a narrative is typically longer than the falling action because this section develops the conflict, introduces new complications and challenges, and builds tension leading up to the climax. The rising action involves a series of events where characters encounter conflicts, embark on journeys, and face secondary conflicts, all of which create a compelling build-up. It engages readers by laying the foundation for the story's climax, which is considered the turning point of the narrative. This contrasts with the falling action, which quickly resolves the story after the climax, showing the consequences of the main event and leading to the resolution.