本书包括六章，每章包括阅读和视听说两部分。阅读部分由精读、泛读组成，侧重不同的方面。精读文章重在学习相应的背景知识和欣赏语言；泛读文章从总体上介绍各主题发展的历史，重在扩大知识面，同时提高快速阅读能力。视听说部分强调趣味性，在提高听说能力的同时，把握时代脉搏，了解当今所发生的重要事件，在提高英语语言技能的过程中，了解并欣赏中英美的历史与文化，以达到开阔视野、提高素质的目的。

本书从历史、教育、经济、政治、体育和风俗等侧面，来展示中英美的文化风貌。所选材料均来自中英美三国的官方网站、报刊、杂志和文学评论，兼顾语言文字的水平及内容的思想性、信息性、趣味性和前瞻性。为便于学习，各篇文章都有难词注解和背景知识介绍，还设计了相应练习，供读者操练语言点和进行口语讨论。本书所配VCD光盘，可以用于视听说教学。

本书适合于普通高等学校本科大学生进行英语应用能力拓展课程的学习，同时也可供硕士研究生、英语爱好者学习与提高英语水平之用。

前言

Chapter One History and People

Intensive Reading

 Passage 1 The Living Present

 Passage 2 The Spirit of the English Nation

 Passage 3 Advice to Youth

Extensive Reading

 Passage 1 History and People in China

 Passage 2 History and People in the United Kingdom

 Passage 3 History and People in the United States

Video-Watching and Discussion

 Video 1 Starbucks Closes Beijing Branch

 Video 2 The Queens Castle

 Video 3 Forbidden City (1)

 Video 4 Forbidden City (2)

 Video 5 A Day with London's Community Police

 Video 6 Columbia Discovered America

 Video 7 The Truth Behind Lincoln

 Video 8 Cho's Video Not Revealing

 Video 9 Martin Luther King

 Video 10 Babies of the Future

Chapter Two Edueation and Life

Intensive Reading

 Passage 1 Leaming and Personal Inclination

 Passage 2 Two Essays on Education and Life

 Passage 3 Commencement 2006, John Hopkins

Extensive Reading

 Passage 1 Philosophy in China

 Passage 2 Education in the United Kingdom

 Passage 3 Education in the United States

Video-Watching and Discussion

 Video 1 America's Overscheduled Kids

 Video 2 China Students Face Job Shortfall

 Video 3 Best College Values

 Video 4 College Costs

 Video 5 Getting Ahead

 Video 6 The Value of Learning Chinese

 Video 7 Teacher Turns Tragedy into Inspiration

 Video 8 Job Search Tips for Graduates

 Video 9 Need to Know

 Video 10 Are Libraries Sacrificing Books?

Chapter Three Economy and Reform

Intensive Reading

 Passage 1 On China's Financial System Reform

 Passage 2 Fuel and Fury

 Passage 3 Why Intemet Shares Will Fall?

Extensive Reading

 Passage 1 Economy and Reform in China

 Passage 2 Economy and Reform in the United Kingdom

 Passage 3 Economy and Reform in the United States

Video-Watching and Discussion

 Video 1 Lenovo's CEO Talk About Merging with IBM

 Video 2 Interest Rate Fear as Inflation Goes over 3%

 Video 3 Life Inside Google

 Video 4 Is Internet Shopping Really a Bargain?

 Video 5 Predictions for Oil Prices

 Video 6 China's Currency Under Fire

 Video 7 Million-Dollar Homes on the Market

 Video 8 "Flexcars" Emerge

 Video 9 China's Banks Power Ahead

Chapter Four Government and Policy

Intensive Reading

 Passage 1 Chinese Government Reform and Policy

 Passage 2 Declaration of Independence

 Passage 3 Speech on Hitler's Invasion of the USSR

Extensive Reading

 Passage 1 The Party in Power in China

 Passage 2 Monarch, Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom

 Passage 3 A Responsive Government of the United States

Video-Watching and Discussion

 Video 1 Dr. Margaret Chan as Director General of WHO

 Video 2 July 4th

 Video 3 Tony Blair Interview

 Video 4 Hong Kong Return

 Video 5 From Hillary to Clinton

 Video 6 Henry Hank Paulson Visited China

 Video 7 New York, a Changing City

 Video 8 The Birthday of the Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ

 Video 9 London (1-3)

 Video 10 Laura Bush on Holding Office

Chapter Five Health and Sports

Intensive Reading

 Passage 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine: One Country, Two Systems

 Passage 2 What If Sports Allowed Doping?

 Passage 3 Exploding Exercise Myths

Extensive Reading

 Passage 1 Road to Olympics

 Passage 2 Sports in the United Kingdom

 Passage 3 Sports in the United States

Video-Watching and Discussion

 Video 1 Olympic-Sized Hope for China

 Video 2 Fight Science

 Video 3 Is Your Job Killing You?

 Video 4 Bee Therapy

 Video 5 Hot Springs

 Video 6 More Money, Less Stress?

 Video 7 Memories Made of Good Sleep

 Video 8 Becks Quits Real Madrid for LA

 Video 9 Looking Simple Is Looking Smart

Chapter Six Festivals and Customs

Intensive Reading

 Passage 1 The Land of My Ancestors

 Passage 2 Evening Parties

 Passage 3 The Best Kind of Love

Extensive Reading

 Passage 1 Festivals and Customs in China

 Passage 2 Festivals and Customs in the United Kingdom

 Passage 3 Festivals and Customs in the United States

Video-Watching and Discussion

 Video 1 Christmas History

 Video 2 The Party Gets Started

 Video 3 The Future of Food

 Video 4 California Wine

 Video 5 Charles and Diana, a Sad Tale

 Video 6 Couple's Comer

 Video 7 What Makes a Good Marriage?

 Video 8 China's Brewing Controversy