Final answer:
The events at the school banquet represent the rising action in the narrative of "first love", where the actions taken by Judith build tension and progress the story towards her first kiss. Option number a is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The events at the school banquet in the narrative affect "first love" by serving as the text's rising action. It is during these events that the protagonist, presumably named Judith, experiences the actions that lead up to her first kiss. This section of the storyline depicts her encountering conflict and taking the necessary steps that build tension and move the plot towards its climax. It is not the story's exposition, as that part would introduce characters and set the scene, nor is it the complicating incident, although it does help develop the story's central conflict.
Therefore, the correct answer to how the events at the school banquet affect "first love" is: a) They serve as the text's rising action, showing the actions that Judith takes to pave the way for her first kiss.