本书共有八个单元，每单元包括课文和补充阅读两篇文章。
本书强调语言基本功的训练和语言实用能力的培养，因此在每单元的课文后均配有大量练习，其中包括回答问题（Comprehension Questions）、话题讨论（Topics for Discussion）、词汇（Vocabulary）、短文填空（Cloze）、翻译（Translation）和写作（Writing）。
每一单元中的口译技能（Translating Skills）体现了本书特色。这一部分简要介绍了口译领域的一些理论知识，并通过实例剖析，概述了口译技能的实际运用。此外，还提供了一些口译范例供学生欣赏，以便进一步提高运用英语的实际能力。
**单元中还增设了补充材料（Additional Work）和谚语（Proverbs）。补充材料包括两个部分：习语学习和阅读欣赏。习语练习与课文无关，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文字价值较高的散文、小说和诗歌等，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 The Eye of the Beholder
Further Reading Does Beauty Bring You Power?
Interpreting Skills Generallntroduction
Unit Two
Texe Escape and Interpretation
Further Reading To Read Fiction
Interpreting Skills Memory skills in Interpretation
Unit Three
Texe Is It Ever Right to Lie?
Further Reading The Ways We Lie
Interpreting Skills Listening Comprehension in Interpretation
Unit Four
Texe Adam Smith's Free-Market Capitalism
Further Reading The Betrayal of Adam Smith
Interpreting Skills Note-Taking Skills in Interpretation
Unit Five
Texe The Law of Human Nature
Further Reading Putting a Good Word for Quilt
Interpreting Skills Figure Skills in Interpretation
Unit Six
Texe Can I Grow a New Brain?
Further Reading On Magic in Medicine
Interpreting Skills Public Speaking Skills Interpretation
Unit Seven
Texe How to Get the Poor off Our Conscience?
Further Reading Down and Out in Paris and London
Interpreting Skills Coping Tactics in Interpretation
Unit Eight
Texe Women and the Myth of Consumerism
Further Reading Portrayal of Women in Advertising
Interpreting Skills Konwledge Acquisition in Interpretation