这是根据新形势下对研究生英语教学的要求编写的教材。该教程由20个单元组成。每单元围绕一个主题展开，包括课文、讨论题、词汇练习、阅读八练习、翻译练习、写作及补充阅读材料。这样，听、说、读、写、译各项技能的培养与训练都可以围绕同一主题展开。这五种语言技能在同一主题下通过不同的练习形式反复循环、不断深化而得到迅速提高。课文中的单词注释及练习的形式是征求研究生的意见和愿望的基础上编排的。考虑到研究生们英语学时少，其他课程任务重的实际情况，合理地利用有限的时间显得十分重要。课文里的生词用中文注释可使学生在短时间内掌握其大概意义，而它们的准确意义和用法则要靠学生在上下文中去体会理解。一些重点词的学习可以通过做词汇练习来完成。阅读理解、翻译练习形式及写作与现在英语考试中通常采用的形式相吻合，这在一定程度上解决了英语教学中所学与所考脱节的问题。

Unit 1 How to Become a Good Graduate Student?

Supplementary Reading: A Letter to Prospective Graduate Students

Unit 2 Effects of Urbanization on Natural Environments

Supplementary Reading: Urbanization and Social Deterioration

Unit 3 Wheel of Mistfortune

Supplementary Reading: Remember Yellow Journalism

Unit 4 A Delicate Balance

Supplementary Reading: Environmental Effects of Acid Rain

Unit 5 International Promotion Strategy

Supplementary Reading: Advertising Strategies

Unit 6 Is It in the Genes?

Supplementary Reading: The AIDS Epidemic: Considerations for the 21st Century

Unit 7 A New Focus on Family Values

Supplementary Reading: The Gardener

Unit 8 Education-Less of It

Supplementary Reading: I Got My B.A. by Sheer Luck

Unit 9 The Equality of Languages

Supplementary Reading: English Dominates Internet

Unit 10 Impacts of Globalization

Supplementary Reading: Is Technology Moving Too Fast?

Unit 11 Why We Laugh

Supplementary Reading: Stress and Its Management

Unit 12 Bogots in the Ivory Tower

Supplementary Reading: What Ever happened to the Population Explosion?

Unit 13 The Power of Music

Supplementary Reading: Music for Stress Management

Unit 14 The New Nuclear Age

Supplementary Reading: Exorcising an Old Demon

Unit 15 Coverage Denied

Supplementary Reading: Dow Clombs to Another Record

Unit 16 A Senators Double Life

Supplementary Reading: His Own Best Case

Unit 17 The Simple Life Comes Back

Supplementary Reading: Black? White? Asian? How about American?

Unit 18 Whats an Intranet?

Supplementary Reading: Computer Networks

Unit 19 Surviving in Space

Supplementary Reading: China Claims Its Place In Space

Unit 20 Family Expands Knowledge through Travel

Supplementary Reading: World Tourism Organization