《21世纪实用英语》自2005年出版使用以来，受到了广泛关注和好评。为适应高职高专教育的发展，为更加切合英语教学特点、方便教师使用、适合学生自学和复习巩固，在广泛征求使用院校广大师生意见的基础上，于2007年初针对第一版的1至3册教材进行了修订。经过一年多的教学实践，为了更好地满足高职高专公共英语教学任务的要求，我们组织了本套教材第4册的修订。第4册的改革同样遵循紧扣教学大纲、降低难度的宗旨。教材主体部分中的Integrated Coupe部分仍保持两篇短文章的形式以适应学时要求和学生对课文难易程度的要求；课文的选材更加贴近生活，使学生能从中感悟生活的哲理，既富有教育和启发意义，又加强学生对英文的阅读与理解。同时，本册教材也更加注重语言技能的培养。该书可供各大专院校作为教材使用，也可供从事相关工作的人员作为参考用书使用。

Unit 1

 Part Ⅰ Listening Comprehension: Renting an Apartment

 Part Ⅱ Speaking Development: Renting an Apartment

 Part Ⅲ Integrated Course: We're Raising Children, Not Flowers! (Ⅰ)

             We're Raising Children, Not Flowers! (Ⅱ)

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ Writing Work: Writing by Given Scenes

Unit

 Part Ⅰ  Listening Comprehension: Tests and Examinations

 Part Ⅱ Speaking Development: Tests and Examinations

 Part Ⅲ Integrated Course: Window

             Home Sickness

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ Writing Work: Description of Tables and Graphs

Unit

 Part Ⅰ Listening Comprehension: Going to the Cinema

 Part Ⅱ Speaking Development: Going to the Cinema

 Part Ⅲ Integrated Course: The Boy at the Track

             Babes in the Woods

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ Writing Work: Writing by Key Words

Unit 4

 Part Ⅰ  Listening Comprehension: A Job Interview

 Part Ⅱ Speaking Development: A Job Interview

 part Ⅲ Integrated Course: Surf's Up!

             Festivals

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ Writing Work: How to Make a Summary

Unit 5

 Part Ⅰ  Listening Comprehension: Having a Party or a Get-together

 Part Ⅱ Speaking Development: Having a Party or a Get-together

 Part Ⅲ Integrated Course: The Gift of Understanding (Ⅰ)

             The Gift of Understanding (Ⅱ)

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ Writing Work: Writing by Outlines,

Unit 6

 Part Ⅰ Listening Comprehension: Phone Service

 Part Ⅱ Speaking Development: Phone Service

 Part Ⅲ Integrated Course: A Man Who Had No Eyes (Ⅰ)

             A Man Who Had No Eyes (Ⅱ)

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ Writing Work: Frequent Mistakes in Writing

Unit 7

 Part Ⅰ  Listening Comprehension: Emergency

 Part Ⅱ Speaking Development: Emergency

 Part Ⅲ Integrated Course: For Blooming in Wards--Nightingale (Ⅰ)

             For Blooming in Wards--Nightingale (Ⅱ)

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ writing Work: Cause Analysis for Tables and Graphs

Unit 8

 Part Ⅰ  Listening Comprehension: Leisure Time

 Part Ⅱ  Speaking Development: Leisure Time

 Part Ⅲ Integrated Course: The Smart Way to Live

             A Change for the Better?

 Part Ⅳ Reading Training

 Part Ⅴ Writing Work: Writing by First Sentences of Each Paragraph