Which statement best distinguishes etiological myths from cosmological myths?

• A. Both etiological and cosmological myths explain social norms but not origins.
• B. Etiological myths explain origins of customs or natural events; Cosmological myths describe the origin and structure of the universe.
• C. Etiological myths describe structure of the universe; Cosmological myths explain personal identity.
• D. Etiological myths are about heroes; Cosmological myths are about gods.

Answer: (B)

Etiological myths explain origins of customs or natural events, while cosmological myths describe the origin and structure of the universe. This distinction is why the statement is best: etiological tales account for why things happen in the world, and cosmological tales address how the cosmos began and how it is organized. The other options mix up those scopes—etiological myths do explain origins, cosmological myths focus on the universe rather than personal identity, and the heroes-vs-gods framing isn’t a reliable way to separate the two.