In novels or short stories, authors can provide scene descriptions and character dialogue, and introduce the conflict with a great deal of contextual detail and background information, also called _____.

a. narration
b. storytelling
c. rhetoric
d. exposition

d. exposition

The correct answer is d. exposition.

Exposition refers to the part of a story where the author provides important background information, context, and details about the setting, characters, and plot. This is typically done at the beginning of a novel or short story to give readers necessary information before diving into the main conflict.

To arrive at this answer, one could analyze the given options and consider their meanings in the context of the question. Narration, option a, generally refers to the act of telling a story or recounting events, which is too broad to accurately describe the specific purpose of providing contextual details. Option b, storytelling, is closely related to narration but lacks the specific emphasis on providing background information. Rhetoric, option c, refers to the art of persuasive or effective speaking or writing, which does not directly correlate with offering context and details about a story. Therefore, the most appropriate choice is d, exposition, as it accurately describes the act of providing contextual information in novels or short stories.