本书共有十个单元,每单元包括两篇课文。
本书强调语言基本功的训练和语言实用能力的培养,因此在每单元的**篇课文后均配有大量练习,其中包括回答问题、话题讨论、词汇、短文填空、翻译和写作。
每一单元中还有一项是体现本书特色的口语技能。这一部分编写了若干与课文内容相关的热门话题,要求学生在课堂上或课后进行操练,以便进一步提高运用英语的实际能力。
每一单元中还增设了补充材料和谚语。补充材料包括三个部分:习语学习、词汇补充和阅读欣赏。习语和词汇练习与课文无关,主要供语言基础较好或希望参加国际英语考试的学生使用。阅读欣赏主要介绍一些英语习语的来源和文学价值较高的散文、诗歌等,以提高学生的文学修养。谚语通常与课文内容有关,旨在加深学生的文化底蕴。

Unit One
Text Coping with the Compliment
Further Reading Solve That Problme——with Humor
Speaking Skills Making and Responding to Compliments
Unit Two
Text An lmage or a Mirage?
Further Reading Success Breeds Success
Speaking Skills Talking About lmpressions
Unit Three
Text George's Brother
Further Reading The Verger
Speaking Skills Pursuing Objectives in Life
Unit Four
Text Acting to End a Life ls Sometimes Justified
Further Reading In Crisi,She Rejected Plea to Expedite Dying
Speaking Skills Talking Aoubt Medical Ethics
Tunit Five
Text The Business World sas a Hunting Ground
Further Reading You Men Want It Both Ways!
Speaking Skills Talking About Sex Roles
Unit Six
Text Beauty Never Extinguished
Further Reading The Time to End Fales Rumor
Speaking Skills Making Comments on the Roles of Mass Media
Unit Seven
Text The Trying Twenties
Further Reading Predictable Crises of Adulthood
Speaking Skills Talking About Growing Pains of the Young People
Unit Eight
Text Work in and Alienated Society
Further Reading Work
Speaking Skills Viewing the Role of Work in Our Lives
Unit Nine
Text Whatever Happened to Privacy?
Further Reading Privacy and the Press:ls Nothing Sacred?
Speaking Skills Preserving Privacy in Our Lives
Unit Ten
Text The Hidden Persuaders
Further Reading The New(and Still Hidden)Persuaders
Speaking Skills Discussing the Effects of Ads on shopping