Explanation
A. The passage does not suggest that the clarity and logic of a good story in history is a vain hope; rather, it discusses the appeal of grand theories despite their decline.
B. (Correct Response) The author uses the concept of "cognitive satisfaction" to explain why people are nostalgic for grand theories. The nostalgia is linked to the comfort provided by the deterministic explanations of history that grand theories offered, which is described in the final paragraph.
C. While the passage does discuss the decline of grand theories, it does not specifically say that the satisfaction derived from universal laws became less popular as they declined.
D. The passage does not directly question the applicability of narrative techniques to history.
E. The passage does not argue about the future decline in interest in universal determinants in history but rather discusses the current state of how history is viewed.
The introduction of the concept of "cognitive satisfaction" in the final paragraph is used to explain why there is still a lingering nostalgia for grand theories, despite their decline and the recognition of their limitations.