CIP:本书从2004年VOA标准英语新闻节目中收录了部分有代表性的热点新闻编排成37个单元。每个单元包含一般性注释、理解性注释和二至三种类型的练习。书后附有新闻稿和习题答案。本书配两盒录音带。
时效性：从2004年美国之音新闻节目中收录有代表性的热点新闻；
权威性：有厦门大学多年从事听说教学的教师精心编写；
实用性：详细的注解和精心设计的练习帮助读者扫清听力障碍、及时检验学习效果，并附两盒音质清晰的录音带
指导性：英语专业教授提供学习方法指导，帮助读者掌握英语学习本质规律，摸索适合自己的学习方法。

前言
如何提高英语听力技能
感悟英语学习之道，以英文媒体为师
PART 1 Notes and Exercises
Unit 1 Suicide Bombings in Iraq Kill at Least 170 at Shi'ite Muslim Shrines
Unit 2 US Tells Haitian Rebels to Disarm and Disband
Unit 3 Powell Cites Progress at Recent Talks on Notrh Korea's Nuclear Program
Unit 4 Kerry All But Chinches Democratic Presidential Nomination
Unit 5 Arab League Leades Reach Agreement on Reforms
Unit 6 New US Military Operation Targets Militants in Afghanistan
Unit 7 Black Market for Nuclear Weapons Technology Raises Concerns
Unit 8 Congress Pulshes Bush Asministration for Details on Iraq Power Transfer
Unit 9 Bush Administration Urges Cypriots to Support UN Plan
Unit 10 Ivorian Opposition Supporters Hold Memorial Service for Security Crack-down Victims
Unit 11 UN:Arab Militias Conduction Ethnic Cleansing Campaign in Weatern Sudan
Unit 12 Arrest warrant Issued for Iraqi Cleric
Unit 13 Militant Islamic Extremism on the Rise in Uzbekistan
Unit 14 Bush,Kerry Continue Debate on US Economy
Unit 15 Al-Qaida Threat Understood Before9/11,Says,Rice
Unit 16 Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza could Set Stage for Cease-Fire,Says Palde-Stinian Official
Unit 17 Japan Will not Withdraw Troops from Iraq,despite Kidnapping of 3 Civilians
……
PART 2 Key to Exercises
PART 3 Tapescripts for VOA News Reports