本书是在2003年**版教材的基础上修订而成。新版教材在沿原有编写理念的同时在文章选材、板块设计、练习编排等方面行了修订。本书按主题分为8个单元,每单元包括1篇新闻,3篇章,所选文章渐进地增加阅读长度和难度,其后附上一定的阅理解和词汇练习,以及适量的写作练习,适合大中院校中已完英语初级阶段学习的非英语专业学习者使用,所选阅读文章均自近年来原版英文报刊杂志,题材多样。此外,为方便使用,本附有练习答案。
本书同样适合大中专院校中水平较高的英语学习者和大学英语六级、研究生入学考试及TOFEL、GRE等各类考生备考使用。

Unit One Economics
Part A Lead-in
News Reading: World Bank Sees US Recession Risk
Part B Reading i
Reading 1 Evaluating Good Corporate Citizenship
Reading 2 "Banker" Who Lends to the Poor Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Reading 3 The Cost of Survival
Part C Unit Assignments
Unit Two Environment
Part A Lead-in
News Reading: President Hu Jintao Commits China to Carbon-cutting Deal
Part B Reading
Reading 1 How Do You Junk Your Computer
Reading 2 EU Governments Start Tough Climate Change Talks
Reading 3 A Tree Grows in Kenya
Part C Unit Assignments
Unit Three Disasters
Part A Lead-in
News Reading: China Mourns Earthquake Victims
Part B Reading
Reading 1 Different Natural Disasters, Same Risky Human Habits.
Reading 2 Midwest Floods Leave Red Cross in the Red
Reading 3 Humans Add to Natural Disaster Risk
Part C Unit Assignments
Unit Four Science and Technology
Part A Lead-in
News Reading: China's First Spacewalk Succeeds
Part B Reading
Reading 1 Is Someone Spying on You?
Reading 2 Science Lessons Should Tackle Creationism and Intelligent Design
Reading 3 Spit Parties: Genetic Testing Becomes a Social Activity...
Part C Unit Assignments
Unit Five Education
Part A Lead-in
News Reading: Facebook "Cheater" Won't Be Expelled from C6llege
Part B Reading
Reading 1 Good Education Adds Value to Both Colleges and Society
Reading 2 OLPC: Eliminating Poverty Through Education i
Reading 3 "Hire" Education: A Vocational Model Succeeds
Part C Unit Assignments
Unit Six Society
Part A Lead-in
News Reading: Woman Causes Storm on Venice's Grand Canal
Part B Reading
Reading 1 Who Owns You?
Reading 2 The Feelgood Factor
Reading 3 Solving Asia's Food Crisis
Part C Unit Assignments
Uint Seven Pokitics
Uint Eight Sports
Key to the Exercises