长期以来，许多在高职高专英语专业教学第一线从事教学工作多年的教师常常感到迫切需要一套为他们量身定做的新教材以适应不断发展的教学形势的需要。正是基于这种需要，复旦大学出版社根据教育部颁发的《英语专业教学大纲》(基础阶段)组织、策划了高职高专英语专业系列教材的编写工作，以更好地服务于我国的高职高专英语专业教学。

《英语阅读基础教程》就是这一系列的一个组成部分，通过为学生提供系统的、富有时代气息的和人文精神的阅读材料，旨在培养和提高学生的阅读和独立思考能力，扩大学生的知识面和词汇量，从而提升学生的理解和欣赏水平。

Unit 1 Schooling

 Text A The First-Year College Experience

 Text B In A Class by Himself

 Text C Graduation Speech

Unit 2 Business

 Text A Leading Clever People

 Text B How Valuable Is Word of Mouth?

 Text C First-Born Kids Become CEO Material

Unit 3 American Dream

 Text A From Jail to Wall Street

 Text B American Dream

 Text C The Road to Universal Studios: Gumption and Guts

Unit 4 Marriage

 Text A Divorces Here! Everyone A Loser!

 Text B How to Pick A Perfect Mate

 Text C Why Do Cheaters Pick Lovers Who Look Like Their Partners?

Unit 5 Parenting

 Text A Pushy Parents: This Is Your Fault

 Text B Boarding: Hard Times?

 Text C Bedtime Stories: We All Have A Tale to Tell

Unit6 Obesity -

 Text A Obesity : Sitting Isn't Pretty

 Text B Fatbusters

 Text C Set the Table for Success

Unit 7 Working Life

 Text A What Not to Do When Working from Home

 Text B Make Your Voice Heard at Work

 Text C Taboos on Asking for A Pay Rise

Unit 8 Study Abroad

 Text A It Sounds Like the American Dream but Make Sure You Do the Math

 Text B French Fries to Blue Chips

 Text C More Top English Students Opt for American Universities

Unit 9 The Virtual World

 Text A Online Dating: Using the Net to Land A Worthwhile Catch

 Text B Real Estate Lists Grow Comfortable with the Web

 Text C Sears' Quiet E-Commerce Revolution

Unit 10 Happiness

 Text A True Happiness Is Just A Fortnight Away

 Text B The Way to Happiness -- A Wonder Drug

 Text C How to Be Happy

Unit 11 The General Election

 Text A Already, Obama and McCain Map Fall Strategies

 Text B Obama Passes Clinton in Superdelegate Count

 Text C How Are They Leaning in Notting Hill? ~

Unit 12 The Digital Technology

 Text A Death of A Middleman

 Text B Are Students Killing Television?

 Text C DVDs Enjoy Final Hurrah Before Sales Begin to Slide

Unit 13 The Credit Crunch

 Text A Boom for Pawnbrokers As Credit Crunch Bites

 Text B Is the Credit Crunch Affecting Your Relationship?

 Text C US Credit Crunch Hits Education As Banks Abandon Student

 Loans

Unit 14 Success

 Text A How to Minimize Risk

 Text B Inside A Deal

 Text C Success? Who Needs It?

Unit 15 The Film Influstw

 Text A Hollywood Is Burning

 Text B Films with Limited Release Find A Home on the Web

 Text C Life after Oscar: It's Not All Glittering Prizes

Unit 16 Retirement 

 Text A Path to Retirement Has Pitfalls for Women

 Text B Second Acts

 Text C For A Good Retirement, Find Work Good Luck