Read the excerpt.

sobel vehemently denied it. “so why you look for strange boys in the street they should go out with miriam? why you don’t think of me? ”

how does this excerpt from “the first seven years” by bernard malamud contribute to the story’s plot?

it is part of the story’s rising action.

it is part of the story’s falling action.

it is part of the story’s exposition.

it is part of the story’s climax.