Final answer:
Stories preserve and prolong cultures by passing down traditions, rituals, and sacred knowledge from one generation to another.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of stories in cultures has had a profound impact on preserving and prolonging those cultures. Stories serve as a means of passing down traditions, rituals, and sacred knowledge from one generation to another, ensuring that important cultural practices are not lost over time. For example, in the ancient Eastern Woodlands culture, origin stories were used to convey the beliefs, values, and customs of the people. By preserving and sharing these origin stories, future generations were able to understand and appreciate the ancient peoples' way of life.