Final answer:
A caste system is a closed stratification system with little social mobility, where social position is based on birth. A class system, conversely, allows for social mobility based on individual achievement. Meritocracy, an ideal system, places value on personal worth but has not been fully realized in any society.
Step-by-step explanation:
A caste system is a form of social stratification where a person's position in the society is determined at birth and is immutable. These systems are closed stratification systems with little social mobility. Caste determines various aspects of a person's life, including occupation, potential marriage partners, and housing.
By contrast, a class system is an open stratification system based on both social factors and individual achievement. Class systems allow people to move to different levels of education or employment than their parents and provide opportunities for interaction across classes.
Meritocracy is an ideal system where social standing is based solely on personal worth or achievement. While pure meritocracies do not exist, modern societies exhibit aspects of meritocratic systems through the evaluation of academic and job performance.