本教材根据《大学英语教学指南》(2020年版)关于英语语言学习的交际应用和跨文化交际能力的要求，通过饮食、教育、神话、运动、节日、影视等12个核心话题，围绕跨文化交际意识、跨文化交际实践与跨文化交际能力评价等维度，精选具有代表性的阅读材料，设计了理解性与阐述性问题，从而帮助学习者在了解文化常识的基础上，能够自觉地进行文化比较，并进而进行文化探究和实践。
本教材集语言学习和文化熏陶于一体，有机融入思政元素，具有人文性、应用性和先进性等特点，能帮助学习者充分了解中西方文化差异、提升跨文化交际能力，并有利于在坚定文化自信的基础上促进中华文化走出去。
本书适用于普通高校通识课或拓展课程，也可供有兴趣的人士阅读借鉴。

Unit One Food
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
The Food Chains That Link Us All
After-Class Reading
Chinese Cuisine
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Two Education
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Education in the United States
After-Class Reading
Education in China
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Three Mythology
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Noah's Ark
After-Class Reading
Chinese Myth: The Creation of the World and Mankind
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Four Sports
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Welcome to the Ancient Olympic Games
After-Class Reading
Some Traditional Sports in China
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Five Body Language
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Understanding Body Language
After-Class Reading
Gestures
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Six Values
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Why Do Americans Act Like That?
After-Class Reading
Chinese Values
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Seven Movies
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
A History of American Movies
After-Class Reading
Journey to the West: Chinese Movies in the Global Market
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Eight Colours
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Culture and Context of Colours
After-Class Reading
Color Symbolism in Chinese Culture: What Do Traditional
Chinese Colors Mean?
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Nine Festivals
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Christmas in Western Countries
After-Class Reading
Chinese Festivals
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Ten Wedding
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
Everything You Need to Know About Princess Diana's
Wedding
After-Class Reading
Traditional Chinese Wedding Customs
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Eleven Coffee and Tea
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
The History of Coffee …
After-Class Reading
Chinese Tea
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Unit Twelve Music
Part One Lead-in
Part Two In-Class Reading
American Music
After-Class Reading
Chinese Music
Part Three Topic-Related Activities
Key to Exercises