本教材紧扣社会现实，兼顾中西文化，内容涉及当代世界和我国经济、文化、科技等热点话题，题材丰富多样，语言生动地道。

在语言训练上，通过话题讨论和形式多样的训练来提高学生的综合连贯表达能力，培养学生准确自如地抒发思想感情的能力。

在内容上，有助于拓宽学生的知识层面和提升学生的思想文化修养，加深其对中西文化和社会现实的真切了解及深刻把握，尤其是要具备用英语正确流畅地介绍我国悠久的历史文化和辉煌的社会现实的能力，毕业后能适应社会的要求和挑战，面向新世纪，走上国际舞台。

UNIT 1 SAVING WATER RESOURCES—WHEN YOU TURN ON THE FAUCET

UNIT 2 CHINESE LITERATURE—READING A GOOD BOOK

UNIT 3 CHATTING ONLINE—BAIDU/GOOGLE

UNIT 4 WESTERN CUISINE AND CHINESE CUISINE

UNIT 5 GREEN FOODS—WHAT CAN WE EAT?

UNIT 6 NATURAL DISASTERS—THE WENCHUAN EARTHQUAKE

UNIT 7 WHITE POLLUTION—CARRYING A SHOPPING BAG

UNIT 8 CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY—ONE OF OUR NATIONAL TREASURES

UNIT 9 CHINESE FOLK ART

UNIT 10 SOAR,"TAIKONAUTS"

UNIT 11 CHINESE TEA CULTURE

UNIT 12 DEFINING SUCCESS—WHAT MAKES PEOPLE SUCCESSFUL?

UNIT 13 SHOPPING ONLINE—E-COMMERCE/ELECTRONIC BANKING

UNIT 14 TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE—MIRACLES OF FOLK WISDOM

UNIT 15 AIDS REMEMBRANCE DAY

UNIT 16 STUDYING ABROAD

UNIT 17 SCENIC SIGHTS—HUANGGUOSHU FALLS

UNIT 18 THE SPRING FESTIVAL GALA

APPENDIX Ⅰ USEFUL FUNCTIONAL PATTERNS

APPENDIX Ⅱ BRIEF INTRODUCTION ON SPEAKING STRATEGIES—PLANNING MAKES PERFECT

APPENDIX Ⅲ MATERIALS FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES