本书为学生提供比较系统的课外学习材料，使他们通过大量的阅读实践逐步掌握阅读技能，全面提高英文阅读能力。

本书坚持循序渐进、先易后难、由浅入深，注重从学生实际水平出发，坚持先易后难、由浅入深、循序渐进；注重趣味性、多样性、知识性、时代性的统一，课文全部选自英美原稿，略有删改，选材内容包括生活趣事、名人轶事、体育健身、民情风俗、娱乐休闲、学习策略、科普知识、医学保健、环境自然、国家地理、工作就业等。

本书是《涉外护理英语》系列教材的组成部分，供五年制高职高专涉外护理专业英语教学使用，也可供广大英语爱好者和医护人员作为学习英语的辅助读物。

Unit One Famous People

Passage 1 "Mother" of Harry Potter

Passage 2 The World's First Woman Doctor

Unit Two Customs

Passage 1 British Customs

Passage 2 The Story of St. Nicholas (The Original Santa Claus)

Unit Three Your Body Inside

Passage 1 How Do You Look Inside? ( I )

Passage 2 How Do You Look Inside? ( 11 )

Unit Four Health and Exercise

Passage 1 Everyday Activities Are Good for Your Health

Passage 2 Walking for Exercise: Improve Your Health

Unit Five Natural World

Passage 1 Animal Camouflage

Passage 2 Why Leaves Are Green

Unit Six Job Hunting and Getting a Job

Passage 1 Job Interview

Passage 2 The Best Way to Success Is Hard Work

Unit Seven Holidays and Festivals

Passage 1 Some Holidays in the U.S

Passage 2 Saint Valentine's Day

Unit Eight Cities and Countries

Passage 1 Canada

Passage 2 Statue of Liberty

Unit Nine Youth Activities

Passage 1 4-H

Passage 2 Individual Projects of the 4-H Members

Unit Ten  Social Relations

Passage 1 Making Friends

Passage 2 Chuck's Friend

Unit Eleven Education and Entertainment

Passage 1 Australia. Homeschooled Children

Passage 2 “9·11” Looks Just Like a Movie

Unit Twelve Doctors and Diseases

Passage 1 U.S. Looks Abroad for Nurses

Passage 2 Risky Business

Unit Thirteen Climate and Weather

Passage 1 Climate Is Changing

Passage 2 You Can Make a Difference

Unit Fourteen Environment and Protection

Passage 1 Controlling the Weather

Passage 2 Water

Unit Fifteen Science and Development

Passage 1 The Happy Space Shuttle

Passage 2 Hearing Magic

Appendix 1 Key to Exercises

Appendix II Glossary