Which of the following best describes the concept of meritocracy in relation to social mobility?

Meritocracy is the idea that people can succeed in society based on their abilities and hard work rather than their background or who they know. This means that if someone works hard and shows talent, they can move up in life, regardless of where they started. For example, a student from a low-income family can achieve a scholarship to a prestigious university if they study hard and get good grades. However, for meritocracy to work, everyone must have equal opportunities, which is not always the case in reality. Therefore, while meritocracy promotes the idea of social mobility, many barriers still exist that can make it difficult for some people to rise based solely on their merit.