本书紧扣外语专业低年级教学大纲。本教材根据大纲规定的听、说、读、写诸方面的要求,进行语言训练,有计划地通过两年的教学,达到大纲中的各项指标。在练习的形式上也注意与四级考试的题型接轨,以便学生适应低年级结束阶段的全国统一测试。
强调语言基本功训练。任何一位外语工作者都需要扎实的语言基本功,而终生起着语言示范作用的教师更为如此。语言基本功需要通过艰苦的强化训练才能掌握,为此本针对各种语言技能设计了大量的练习,旨在对学生进行系统的强化训练。
18个项目集于一课书内,以课文为核心,围绕课文,开展多层次训练,以期使学生在听、说、读、写四项技能方面下扎实的基础。
本书的练习数量很大,其中部分练习可布置学生的课外完成。这样既能按计划每周教完一课,又可以培养学生独立进行语言训练和解决问题的能力。

Unit 1 Text : Which Newspaper Should I Read
Sopken: English:Saying You Are Not Sure
Grammar:Expressing the Future
Unit 2 Text :On Buying Books
Sopken English: Saying What You Prefer
Grammar: Adverbial Clausee of Concession
Unit 3 Text : "Flowing"through Life
Sopken English: Saying What You Think Is Possible ro Probale
Grammar: The Present Progressive Tense
Unit 4 Text :Healthy Eating
Sopken English: Asking for Someone's Opinion
Grammar: The-ed Participle
Unit 5 Text :The Problem of Work and Leisure
Sopken English: Saying You Are Curious
Grammar: The Passive Voice
Unit 6 Text :The Film I Have Enjoyed Most
Sopken English: Saying You Approve
Grammar: Relative Clauses
Unit 7 Text :Is Life Better for Us than It Was for Our Forefathers?
Text: Is Life Better for US than It Was for Our Forefathers?
……
Unit 8 Text :A Nation of Pet-lovers
Unit 9 Text :Teaching Pronunciation
Unit 10 Text :Getting a Job
Unit 11 Text :The Seaside
Unit 12 Text :The Summer of My Content
Unit 13 Text :Adolescent Students
Unit 14 Text :Television Is Doing Irreparable Harm
Unit 15 Text :Some Comment on Examination
Unit 16 Text: Interviews
Unit 17 Text :American Friendship Patterns
Unit 18 Text :Australian Egalitarianism