本书参照我国高等学校英语专业教学大纲的基本要求，汲取我国历年出版的各种英语专业类教材的有益经验编写而成。在内容上作了适度的收缩、精简，侧重于研读精选课文、学习基础词汇、辨析词语用法、讲解语法应用。通过针对课文、词汇等练习，对学生进行强化训练，从而奠定学生坚实的英语基础，提高学生的英语口语及写作水平。
本书适合大中专院校英语专业学生和英语爱好者使用。

Lesson One
The English Language: Then and Now
Words and Expressions
Notes
Exercises on the Text
Word Study
Vocabulary Exercises
Grammer
(一)数量词语的用法
(二)句法概要
Grammar Exercises
The English Language:Basic Terms
Lesson Two
Academic Integrity —A Letter to My Students (I)
Words and Expressions
Notes
Exercises on the Text
Word Study
Vocabulary Exercises
Grammar
(一)表示“参加”的词语的用法比较
(二)名词的分类及数的形式
Grammar Exercises
The Campus
Lesson Three
Academic Integrity —A Letter to
My Students (II)
Words and Expressions
Notes to the Text
Exercises on the Text
Word Study
Vocabulary Exercises
Grammar
(一)与“课”有关的词语用法比较
(二)各类名词数的用法要点
Grammer Exercises
The University
Lesson Four
Saving Money for College by Myself
Words and Expressions
Notes
Exercises on the Text
Word Study
Vocabulary Exercises
Grammar
(一)let, allow, permit, tolerate的用法比较
(二)冠词的基本用法
Grammar Exercises
American Institutions of Education
Lesson Five
Where to Go after School? —Universities and Colleges in Britain (I)
Words and Expressions
Notes
Exercises on the Text
Word Study
Vocabulary Exercises
Grammar
(一)say, tell, talk, speak, chat的用法比较
(二)冠词的特殊用法
Grammar Exercises
British Universities
Lesson Six
Lesson Seven
Lesson Eight
Lesson Nine
Lesson Ten
Lesson Eleven
Lesson Twelve
Lesson Thirteen
Lesson Fourteen
Lesson Fifteen
Appendixes