1.opportunity: a favorable moment or occasion (for doing something)
Examples:
　　　　　It will give you an opportunity to meet all kinds of people.
　　　　　Don’t let slip any opportunity of practicing your English.

2.claim: say that something is true or is a fact without having any proof
Examples:
　　　　　Jean claims to own a car but I don’t believe her.
　　　　　He claimed that he had done the work without help.

3.... but I’m not aware of any success stories: ... but I don’t know any success stories
be aware of: having knowledge or realization (of , that)
Examples:
　　　　　We are fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
　　　　　Are you aware that you are sitting on your hat?

4.let alone: not to mention
Examples:
　　　　　I have not even read the first chapter, let alone finished the book.
　　　　　The baby can’t even walk, let alone run.

5.discourage: prevent (an action)
Examples:
　　　　　We discourage smoking in this school.
　　　　　We tried to discourage him from climbing the mountain without a guide.

6.foster: help (something) to grow or develop
Examples:
　　　　　Cooperative learning fosters a spirit of cooperation.
　　　　　The mother tried to foster her son’s interest in music by taking him to concerts when he was young.

7.try out:: test to find out about quality, worth, effect, etc.
Examples:
　　　　　I want to try out several of the new singers for the part.
　　　　　The new engine must be thoroughly tried out before being out on the market.

8.highly: to a great degree; very
Examples:
　　　　　He speaks very highly of the boy’s behavior.
　　　　　It is highly improbable that they will accept our proposal.

9.focus on: direct one’s attention to
Examples:
　　　　　Today we’re going to focus on the question of homeless people in London.
　　　　　As we can’t study all the resources,I propose we focus attention on one of them.
　　　　　All eyes focused on him.

10.academic:
1) scholarly, theoretical, not practical
Examples:
　　　　　Academic exchanges are an important part of cultural exchanges between two countries.
　　　　　His theory received little attention because he was unknown in the academic world.
　　　　　This question is purely academic.

2) of a college or university
Examples:
　　　　　This is the school calendar for academic year 2011 – 2012.
　　　　　He possessed no academic qualifications.

11.grateful: feeling or showing thanks
Examples:
　　　　　I was most grateful to John for bringing the books.
　　　　　We are grateful to our neighbors for help in time of trouble.

12.sign up: sign an agreement to take part in something
Examples:
　　　　　We will not have the picnic unless more people sign up.
　　　　　How many people signed up for this course?

13.lose oneself in: be extremely interested in something
Examples:
　　　　　On a dull winter afternoon, Harry would sit by the fire and lose himself in a book.
　　　　　She listened intently to the music, losing herself in its beauty.

14.... but other grades were sinking: .. but other grades were falling.

15. first-hand: (learned) directly from the point of origin
Examples:
　　　　　I heard the news ?rst-hand.
　　　　　This sort of experience can only be gained ?rst-hand.

16.discipline: a method of training
Examples:
　　　　　Learning poetry is a good discipline for the memory.
　　　　　In learning a foreign language, pronunciation drills and question and answer drills are good discipline.

17.jeopardize: destroy; damage; endanger
Examples:
　　　　　I didn’t want to jeopardize my relationship with my new friend.
　　　　　The soldier jeopardized his life to save his comrade.

18.fall into: pass into a specified state
Examples:
　　　　　You have fallen into a bad habit of repeating yourself.
　　　　　She fell into modeling almost by accident.

19.unlikely: not expected; improbable
Examples:
　　　　　The weather is unlikely to improve over the next few days.
　　　　　Victory is unlikely, but not impossible.

20.capable: having ability of doing or the power to do
Examples:
　　　　　She is extremely capable and dependable.
　　　　　This computer is capable of storing millions of bits of information.

21.appropriate: correct or suitable
Examples:
　　　　　Plain, simple clothes are appropriate for school wear.
　　　　　It seemed appropriate to end with a joke.

22.think about: examine, consider (especially a plan, idea to see whether it is desirable, practical, etc.)
Examples:
　　　　　I should like to think about your suggestion before I give a definite reply.
　　　　　I have never thought of becoming an actor.

23.lead to: have as a result; cause
Examples:
　　　　　A bad cold can lead to pneumonia.
　　　　　Hard work leads to success.

24.end up: finish (especially in a particular place or way)
Examples:
　　　　　He ended up (as) head of the firm.
　　　　　Wasteful people usually end up in debt.