_____ permits—or encourages—ethnic differences.

• A. Assimilation
• B. Multiculturalism
• C. Racism
• D. Segregation

Answer: (B)

Multiculturalism is the stance that recognizes and values ethnic diversity within a society, allowing different groups to maintain their own languages, traditions, and customs while participating as equal members of the whole. This approach explicitly permits—or encourages—ethnic differences by protecting rights, promoting representation, and supporting policies that celebrate cultural variety. It contrasts with assimilation, which pushes differences to fade as minority groups adopt the dominant culture; segregation, which enforces separation; and racism, which involves discrimination based on race rather than fostering diverse, coexisting cultures. In practice, multiculturalism might involve inclusive curricula, multilingual services, and cultural festivals that reflect the variety of the population.