本书以章节的形式，从名族特性、宗教遗产、教育、政治、生活方式等方面，全面系统地讲解美国的社会文化，并以此为依托，提高学生的英语语言能力，改变长期以来将语言割裂成词汇、词法、句法等或空洞无物或支离破碎的几个部分进行语言教学的状况。

美国社会与文化》是在内容依托教学理念指导下，基于国家哲学社会科学项目“英语专业基础阶段内容依托式教学改革研究”推出的系列英语教材之一。《美国社会与文化》适用于英语专业一、二年级学生，也适用于具有中学英语基础的非英语专业学生和英语爱好者学习。

Unit 1 Understanding American Society and Culture

　Text A American Culture

　Text B Five Famous Symbols of American Culture

　Text C Moral Values in American

Unit 2 The American Character (I)

　Text A The American Character

　Text B Go-Go Americans

　Text C What Is Typically American?

Unit 3 The American Character (II)

　Text A Typical American Behaviors and Values

　Text B Time Is Money

　Text C What Is an American?

Unit 4 Religion in the U.S.A.

　Text A Religion in the United States

　Text B Community Hero: Millard and Linda Fuller

　Text C Secularization of Religion in the U.S.

Unit5 The Mythical American West

　Text A The Impact of the American FrOntier

　Text B Rugged Individuals

Unit 6 Education in the United States

　Text A Education in the U.S.

　Text B The First Day of Middle School

　Text C High School

　Text D Higher Education in the United States

Unit 7 Government and Politics in the United States

　Text A The Organization of the American Government

　Text B The Triumph of Technology

　Text C American Democracy

Unit 8 The U.S.A.A Nation of Nations

　Text A The U.S.A.--A Universal Nation

　Text B The History of Chinese Americans

　Text C African-American

Unit 9 I.ove and Marriage in the U.S.

　Text A Marriage: American Style

　Text B Wedding Customs & Superstitions

　Text C Dating Patterns in the U.S.

Unit 10 Family Life & Social Etiquette in the U.S.

　Text A American Family

　Text B Divorce

　Text C American Etiquette

　Text D Eating Out in the U.S.A.

Unit 11 Holidays and Festivals in the U.S.A.

　Text A The Winter Holiday Season

　Text B American Vacations

　Text C American Holidays 5

Unit 12 Sports in the U.S.A.

　Text A Sports in theU.S.A.

　Text B All-American Football

　Text C Air Jordan Walks Away

Unit 13 The Charm of American Screens

　Text A Entertainment Media in the U.S.

　Text B Hollywood: How the American Movie Industry Was Born

　Text C American Soap Operas

　Text D Oprah Winfrey

Unit 14 The Music of America

　Text A The Music of America

 Text B The King of Rock' n' Roll

 Text C Jazz

Unit 15 American Literatur

 Text A Overview of American Literature

 Text B Man is Not Made for Defeat

 Text C The Tempest

Appendix

 Key for Reference

 重点参考书目和网