本书共有十个单元，每单元包括两篇课文。

本书强调语言基本功的训练和语言实用能力的培养，因此在每单元的第一篇课文后均配有大量练习，其中包括回答问题（Comprehension Questions）、话题讨论（Topics for Discussion）、词汇（Vocabulary）、短文填空（Cloze）、翻译（Translation）和写作 （Writing）。

每一单元中还有一项是体现本书特色的口语技能（Speaking Skills）。这一部分编写了若干与课文内容相关的热门话题，要求学生在课堂上或课后进行操练，以便进一提高运用英语的实际能力。

每一单元中还增设了补充材料(Additional Work）和谚语（Proverbs）。补充材料包括三个部分：习语学习、词汇补充和阅读欣赏。习语和词汇练习与课文无关，主要供语言基础较好或希望参加国际英语考试的学生使用。阅读欣赏主要介绍一些英语习语的来源和文学价值较高的散文、诗歌等，以提高学生的文学修养。谚语通常与课文内容有关，旨在加深学生的文化底蕴。

Unit One

Text       An Image or a Mirage?

Further Reading   Success Breeds Success

Speaking Skills   Talking About Impressions

Unit Two

Text       Is Love an Art?

Further Reading   The Future of Love: Kiss Romance Goodbye, It's

          Time for the Real Thing

Speaking Skills   How to Express Love

Unit Three

Text       The Ant and the Grasshopper

Further Reading   The Verger

Speaking Skills   Pursuing Objectives in Life

Unit Four

Text        We've Got Mail -- Always

Further Reading   The Museum of Me

Speaking Skills   Talking About E-mail and Internet

Unit Five

Text        Solve That Problem  with Humor

Further Reading   The Having-a-Sense-of-Humor Image

Speaking Skills   On Sense of Humor

Unit Six

Text The Media and the Ethics of CIoning

Further Reading  If We Have It，Do We Use It?

Speaking Skills Talking About Medical Ethics

Unit Seven

Text The Trying Twenties

Further Reading Predictable Crises of AdulthOOd

Speaking Skills Talking About Growing Pains of the Young People

Unit Eight

Text The Business World as a Hunting Ground

Further Reading  You Men Want It Both Ways!

Speaking Skills Talking About Sex Roles

Unit Nine

Text  Why We Don’t Complain?

Further Reading The Fine Art of Complaining

Speaking Skills Making and Responding to Complaints

Unit Ten

Text The Virtues of Ambition

Further Reading How“Average”People Excel

Speaking Skills  Ambition：Root of Achievement