本教材首先是紧扣最新变化，无论是阅读篇幅还是题型都严格按最新大学英语四级考试要求编写。其次是选材多样，内容新颖，信息量大，所选短文全部是近两年英美正式发表的，以介绍英美社会、人文、习俗等背景知识为主，每单元以一个话题为中心。本书的编写宗旨不以应试为目的，而在于给学生提供高质量的英语阅读文章，使学生在愉快的阅读中欣赏美文，开阔视野，并在不知不觉中掌握阅读技能，尤其是快速阅读技能。最后，本教材适合于课堂和自学两种教学模式。每单元由四篇文章组成，前两篇为课内阅读，由教师按规定的时间安排随堂练习，有计划、有步骤地培养学生的阅读技能；后两篇文章为课后阅读，可作为课后作业和学生自主学习的材料，进一步强化和巩固课内所学的知识。

Unit One Fashion and Trend

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Brides Say“I Do”to Green Weddings

Passage Ⅱ Men's Fashion-How to Create Lasting and Permanent Styles

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ The Ring-Step back in History

Passage Ⅱ Helpful Suggestions for Purchasing Sunglasses

 阅读技巧：快速阅读技巧(一)

Unit Two Dreams and Ambitions

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Keep Yoor Dream

Passage Ⅱ Anthony's Dream

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Aspirations

Passage Ⅱ Women's AmbitiOils

 阅读技巧：快速阅读技巧(二)

Unit Three Culture and Society

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Pub-Talk

Passage Ⅱ Europeans just Want to Have Fun

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Multiculturalism in Canada(Ⅰ)

Passage Ⅱ Multiculturaliqm in Canada(Ⅱ)

 阅读技巧：培养良好的阅读习惯

Unit Four Mass Media

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ No Net？We'd Rather Go without Food

Passage Ⅱ Intemet Use Said to Cut into Viewing and Socializing

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Mass Media

Passage Ⅱ Who Killed the Newspaper？

 阅读技巧：猜测词义

Unit Five PoliticaI lssues

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Ambassadors Submit Draft Resolution on Iran Sanctions

Passage Ⅱ In March，Protesters Recall War Anniversaries

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Putin Proposes Alternatives on Missile Defense

Passage Ⅱ Challenging Talks

 阅读技巧：如何浏览新闻报道(一)

Unit Six Keep Fitness

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Fast Weight Loss-Is It Possible？

Passage Ⅱ Yogalates：A Blend of Exercises

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Eat Smart：Five Important Goals to Improve Your Diet

Passage Ⅱ Obesity：A Looming National Threat？

 阅读技巧：如何浏览新闻报道(二)

Unit Seven VirtuaI Life

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Cyber-Addiction Growing Problem for the US Online Community

Passage Ⅱ Educators Explore“Second Life”Online

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ The School of“Second Life”

Passage Ⅱ China's Virtual Currency Threatens the Yuan

 阅读技巧：议论文阅读策略

Unit Eight World Wonders

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ The Nonthern Lights

Passage Ⅱ Mount Everest

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Stonehenge

Passage Ⅱ Paricutin Volcano

 阅读技巧：识别阅读中的参照关系与省略

Unit Nine Health Problems

hl-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Rethinking Your Vices：New Excuses to Smoke，Eat Pizza，Be a Slob

Passage Ⅱ Rev up Your Metabolism

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Does Losing Sleep Mean Gaining Weight？

Passage Ⅱ Obesity

 阅读技巧：网络英语阅读中的新词(一)

Unit Ten A Variety of Dangers

 In-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ You Can Buy a Thrill：Chasing the Ultimate Rush

Passage Ⅱ Flash Flood and“Slow”Flood：Tales from Two Floods

 After-Class Reading

Passage Ⅰ Fire：Friend or Foe？

Passage Ⅱ Living with Drought

 阅读技巧：网络英语阅读中的新词(二)

Keys to Fast Reading(Book Three)