《新标准大学英语（第二版）长篇阅读》的编写遵循“以人为本”的教学理念，结合大学英语教学改革与发展的方向，以外语教学理论为指导，兼顾语言学习的人文性和工具性，注重培养学生的语言综合应用能力、跨文化交际意识以及创造性、批判性思维。
《长篇阅读》分为1-4级，每级8个单元，每单元4篇阅读文章。文章长度从第一级每篇700词左右过渡到第四级的1200词左右。每单元围绕同一主题展开，并与《新标准大学英语（第二版）综合教程》各单元主题相呼应。所选文章不仅题材广泛、内容丰富、与时俱进，而且注重当今中国大学生的学习兴趣，着力凸显文章的趣味性、信息性、知识性和新颖性。《长篇阅读》的文章涉及英语国家的语言文化、风土人情、科学技术、教育思想、社会热点等各个方面，通过多元的主题内容拓展学生的视野。文章以说明文和论说文为主，主要来源于近年来出版的国内外书籍以及英语国家主要媒体的网站。
本书是其中的第4级。

长篇阅读技能指南
1 Nine to five
PASSAGE 1 Job fairs
PASSAGE 2 The growing job crisis needs solutions now
PASSAGE 3 A career switcher looks to build a better resume
PASSAGE 4 Five insider tips for job-seeking college grads
2 A good read
PASSAGE 1 Reading: luxury or necessity?
PASSAGE 2 The importance of instilling a need to read
PASSAGE 3 Brains, books and the future of print
PASSAGE 4 Book clubs for the chattering classes
3 Fashion statements
PASSAGE 1 Fashion and gender
PASSAGE 2 Fashion modelling - it's not just about a pretty face!
PASSAGE 3 The world of tattoos
PASSAGE 4 Fashion everywhere!
4 Money talks
PASSAGE 1 Money matters (but not as much as you think it does)
PASSAGE 2 How to save money you didn't know you had
PASSAGE 3 The new Internet start-up boom: get rich slow
PASSAGE 4 My family's no-buy experiment
5 Gender studies
PASSAGE 1 Changing gender roles within the workplace
PASSAGE 2 What women want now
PASSAGE 3 Are co-ed or single-sex lessons best?
PASSAGE 4 The male minority
6 All in the past
PASSAGE 1 Neanderthal
PASSAGE 2 Ancient origins of Halloween
PASSAGE 3 Stonehenge
PASSAGE4 The ancient Olympics
7 Architecture: frozen music
PASSAGE 1 Just another pretty face?
PASSAGE 2 Cambridge Public Library
PASSAGE 3 Beijing National Stadium, "the Bird's Nest"
PASSAGE 4 Yale's green ark
8 The human spirit
PASSAGE 1 Bonnie St. John: uphill skiing
PASSAGE 2 The Apollo expeditions to the moon
PASSAGE 3 Climbing Mount Qomolangma
PASSAGE 4 Can you push yourself too hard?
Answer key