本教程最大的特点是以文化为主线,主要目的是培养研究生的篇章阅读能力,同时还侧重写作基本功的训练,尤其是对中西方的文化差异进行了非常详尽的对比。读者在提高语言技能的同时能够更加清楚地了解中西文化对语言造成的差异。
课文选材范围广泛选文涉及西方的政治、外交、婚姻、教育、男女交谈问题、英语语言的发展等各个方面。同时涉及到一些人生励志的经典文章和以西方的视角来看待中国的文章。其内容丰富,趣味性强;语言地道,表达准确经过多次筛选,所选文章均为地道的英美佳作,很多文章堪称英文经典,可读性强;写作部分学用结合写作部分讲练安排合理,既重视基本写作技能训练,又注重实际应用能力的培养,能够有效地提高研究生的写作水平;文化部分妙趣横生从语言学的角度探讨了语言与文化的关系,学生能够对其二者的关系有非常深刻的认识,并通过中西文化差异对比,开阔学生视野,学习语言的同时,学习文化;题型多样,难度适宜练习设计多样。有多项选择题、问答题、讨论题、词汇题、改错题和翻译题等,每一课的热身活动(Warming-up Activities)能够给学生更多的听说的机会。
Unit 1 Two Truths to Live By
In-Class Reading
Two Truths to Live By
After-Class Reading
Clearing in the Sky
Writing
Chapter 1 The Four Steps for Effective Paragraph Writing (Part Ⅰ)
Unit 2 The Future of English
In-Class Reading
The Future of English
After-Class Reading
The Romance of Words
Language and Culture
Chapter 1 Language and Culture: An Introduction
Unit 3 I Have a Dream
In-Class Reading
I Have a Dream
After-Class Reading
Conflict in Black and White
Writing
Chapter 2 The Four Steps for Effective Paragraph Writing (Part Ⅱ)
Unit 4 The Fifth Freedom
In-Class Reading
The Fifth Freedom
After-Class Reading
U.S. Higher Education
Language and Culture
Chapter 2 Word Meaning and Culture (Part Ⅰ)
Unit 5 Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other
In-Class Reading
Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other?
After-Class Reading
Marital Quarrels
Writing
Chapter 3 Paragraph Unity, Support and Coherence
Unit 6 The Lady , or the Tiger?
In-Class Reading
The Lady, or the Tiger? (Part Ⅰ)
After-Class Reading
The Lady, or the Tiger? (Part Ⅱ)
Language and Culture
Chapter 3 Word Meaning and Culture (Part Ⅱ)
Unit 7 Mark Twain--Mirror of America
In-Class Reading
Mark Twain---Mirror of America
After-Class Reading
The Damned Human Race
Writing
Chapter 4 Paragraph Development——Providing Examples and Explaining a Process
Unit 8 From Popping the Question to Popping the Pill
In-Class Reading
From Popping the Question to Popping the Pill
After-Class Reading
Marriage among Disadvantaged Women
Language and Culture
Chapter 4 Simile, Metaphor and Culture
Unit 9 Inaugural Address
In-Class Reading
Inaugural Address
After-Class Reading
Why Study Public Speaking?
Writing
Chapter 5 Paragraph Development--Examining Cause and Effect
Unit 10 My Wood
In-Class Reading
My Wood
After-Class Reading
How Could Anything That Feels So Bad Be So Good?
Language and Culture
Chapter 5 Cultural Differenes in Everyday Conversation
Unit 11 Science and the Scientific Attitude
In-Class Reading
Science and the Scientific Attitude
After-Class Reading
Galileo, the Stargazer Who Defied the World
Writing
Chapter 6 Paragraph Development--Comparing or Contrasting
Unit 12 The Last Leaf
In-Class Reading
The Last Leaf
After-Class Reading
The Gift of the Magi
Language and Culture
Chapter 6 Culture and Image Transfer
Unit 13 Three Days to See
In-Class Reading
Three Days to See
After-Class Reading
The Story of My Life
Writing
Chapter 7 Paragraph Development--Defining a Term & Dividing and Classifying
Unit 14 China Finds Western Ways Bring New Woes
In-Class Reading
China Finds Western Ways Bring New Woes
After-Class Reading
A Land of Abundance
Language and Culture
Chapter 7 Culture in English Study
Unit 15 Higher Education Crosses Borders
In-Class Reading
Higher Education Crosses Borders
After-Class Reading
Best Graduate Schools
Writing
Chapter 8 Essay Development