本书介绍当下西方社会，涉及宗教、教育、经济、新闻媒体、传统节日等主题，结合阅读技能训练，严格控制篇幅和难度，科学有效地培养阅读能力。

Unit 1 Religion
Section 1 Reading Skills: Scanning
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Unit 2 Language
Section 1 Reading Skills: Skimming
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Unit 3 Education
Section 1 Reading Skills: The Large Picture
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Unit 4 Law and Government
Section 1 Reading Skills: Text Structure
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Unit 5 Economy
Section 1 Reading Skills: Paragraph Structure
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Unit 6 News and Media
Section 1 Reading Skills: When You Don't Know a Word, Guess!
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Unit 7 Festivals and Holidays
Section 1 Reading Skills: Making Inferences
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Unit 8 Jewish Culture
Section 1 Reading Skills: A Review
Section 2 Primary Reading: Cultural Overview
Section 3 Speed Reading: Cultural Spotlights
Section 4 Home Reading
Key to Exercises