bill strap; currency strap; currency band; wrapper band; newspaper band
academic meritocracy; education-conscious society; society that places (excessive) emphasis on academic records
person with multiple debts
passing university entrance exams in the last year of high school (instead of failing then taking gap year(s))
general (civil engineering and construction) contractor
daily wages; payment by the day
taking a cut (of someone else's money); taking a rake-off; pocketing a kickback; skimming (a percentage of the profits, proceeds, etc.)
long thin face; Black Scraper (fish)
allotment (allocation) of marks
consumer financing firm; loan shark
cellophane tape; (transparent) adhesive tape; Sellotape; Scotch tape
cliff; precipice; precipice; brink of a dangerous situation
stubborn; obstinate; pigheaded
those interested in participating; persons wishing to participate
unsung hero; person who does a thankless task
to grovel; to go down on one's hands and knees
per person; per capita; per head
that's too bad; too bad for you!
shout; cry; outcry; yell; shriek; scream
university graduate; having graduated from university
one's own property; possessions
current year (fiscal, academic, etc.)
great erudition; extensive knowledge; vast stock of knowledge
public works; public-works projects; public utilities
examination (exam) questions; questions for an examination
to be pretentious; to put on airs
party (of people); set (of people); clan; family; fellow
balance; difference (in price, cost); margin
to pile up and up; to pile up more and more; to mount (e.g. debts, concerns)