Final answer:
The "melting pot" concept suggests complete assimilation, where different cultures combine to form a new, singular culture, as opposed to the "salad bowl" metaphor of pluralism, where cultural differences are retained within a diverse society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The achievement of the "melting pot" concept suggests that b) Assimilation is complete. The metaphor of the melting pot relates to the amalgamation process, where a minority group and a majority group combine to form a new group, effectively losing their individual cultural identities to create a new, unified culture. This is in contrast to the "salad bowl" metaphor, which represents pluralism, where diverse cultures mix but retain their unique identities, adding to the overall flavor of the society without losing their own cultural characteristics.
Assimilation can be measured by factors such as socioeconomic status, spatial concentration, language assimilation, and intermarriage. In the context of a melting pot society, true pluralism is difficult to achieve, as it requires mutual respect among all cultures, which naturally abates the notion of assimilation where cultural differences are not just blended but are in fact erased.
In summary, while a melting pot denotes a homogeneous culture resulting from complete assimilation, a salad bowl celebrates cultural diversity and pluralism, where each culture maintains its own identity within a multicultural environment.