The importance of the rising action in a story primarily lies in the following statement:
"During the rising action, complications in the plot help build narrative tension."
The rising action is crucial because it introduces conflicts, obstacles, and challenges that the characters must navigate, creating suspense and intrigue that keeps readers engaged. As the plot develops through the rising action, tension builds leading up to the climax, which is the turning point of the story. While the other statements touch on different aspects of storytelling, the core role of rising action is to develop the narrative tension and complexity that enrich the overall story.