该年级名列前茅的几个学生的分数已压低了，因为他们同其他学生之间的分数差距并不反映他们的真正成绩。 The boys at the top of the form were marked down, as the gap between them and the rest did not reflect their true merits.
那时，这老头儿只不过是个泥瓦工罢了。他之所以发迹，我认为靠的是精明的而不是业绩。 In his time, the old gentleman was a working mason, and had risen form the ranks more, I think, by shrewdness than by merit.
晋升应该凭成绩还是靠年资？ Should promotion be through merit or seniority?
