Final answer:
The conflict in a story sets the main events into motion by providing a reason for events to happen, driving towards the climax and eventually leading to resolution, which ties back to the story's theme.
Step-by-step explanation:
A story's conflict is crucial as it serves as the catalyst for all the events that make up the plot. Specifically, the conflict is what provides a reason for events to unfold within the story.
This can be seen during the inciting incident, which triggers the main conflict and drives the characters towards the climax, creating a chain of events known as the rising action. The resolution of the conflict often happens after the climax, as part of the falling action, leading to a resolution that ties back to the overarching theme of the narrative. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (c) The conflict provides a reason for events to happen.