Final answer:
Meritocracy is the system that allows for the most social mobility because it is based on individual abilities and achievements. Unlike caste and monarchy systems, where social status is largely fixed, meritocracy offers the opportunity for individuals to change their social standing through hard work and talent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The System that Allows for the Most Social Mobility
The system that allows for the most social mobility is c) Meritocracy. Unlike a caste system or monarchy, meritocracy is based on an individual's abilities and achievements rather than their birth or social class. In a meritocracy, individuals have the opportunity to advance socially and economically through their own efforts, skills, and education. Although not without its criticisms, the ideal of meritocracy suggests that everyone has the chance to succeed if they work hard enough, whereas caste and class systems tend to limit mobility based on predetermined factors.
Other systems like caste, in which social status is inherited and change is not possible, or monarchy, where social position is also largely hereditary, provide little to no opportunity for individuals to move beyond the circumstances of their birth. A class system does allow some degree of mobility but is still significantly influenced by variables that are beyond the individual's control, such as family wealth or social connections.
Therefore, meritocracy represents the most potential for change in social standing based on personal merit and effort, making it the system that provides the highest level of social mobility.