Why does the author begin the story in the present, shift to the past, and then finish back in the present? a so that the reader stays engaged and does not get bored b so that the reader learns about the background of the character and is better able to determine his motivations c so that the reader can determine previous external conflicts in the main character's life and therefore better understand the overall theme of the story d so that the reader is engrossed in a complex plot with intricate characters and multiple conflicts.