本书采用国外教材常见的annotated instructor's edition的做法，将学生用书和教师参考用书合二为一。该书在继续关注学生的英语语言基础训练的同时，侧重于学生的综合技能的培养。每个单元一般需用六个课时，与课文相关的主题始终贯穿于整个教案内容的安排之中。教案内容分三部分：教学目标，课时分配和教学步骤。该书可供各大专院校作为教材使用，也可供从事相关工作的人员作为参考用书使用。

Unit 1

 Changes in the Way We Live

 Part Ⅰ  Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A Mr. Doherty Builds His Dream Life

 Part Ⅲ Text B American Family Life: The Changing Picture

 Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: Using comparison and contrast in essay writing (2)

Unit 2

 Civil-Rights Heroes

 Part Ⅰ  Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A The Freedom Givers

 Part Ⅲ Text B The Dream, the Stars and Dr. King

 Part IV Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: Using library resources

Unit 3

 Security

 Part Ⅰ  Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A The Land of the Lock

 Part Ⅲ Text B Why I Bought a Gun

 Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: Using cause and effect in essay writing (2)

Unit 4

 Extraterrestrials

 Part Ⅰ  Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A The Watery Place

 Part Ⅲ Text B IS There Life on Planets Circling Other Stars?

 Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: How to write an expository essay (2)

Test Yourself (Units 1 - 4)

Unit 5

 How to Celebrate Holidays

 Part Ⅰ  Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A Writing Three Thank-You Letters

 Part Ⅲ Text B Where Is Home?

 Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: How to write thank-you letters

Unit 6

 The Human Touch

 Part Ⅰ  Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A The Last Leaf

 Part Ⅲ Text B Thank You, Ma'm

 Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: The general-to-specific pattern

Unit 7

 Making a Living

 Part Ⅰ  Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A Life of a Salesman

 Part Ⅲ Text B Bricklayer's Boy

 Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: How to write a synopsis

Unit 8

 Cloning

 Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task

 Part Ⅱ Text A A Clone Is Born

 Part Ⅲ Text B Second Thoughts on Cloning

 Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks

 Writing Strategy: How to write a persuasive essay (2)

Tast Yourself (Units 5- 8)

Appendix Ⅰ Key to Exercises in Parts Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ

Appendix Ⅱ Tapeseripts and Key to Test Papers

Appendix Ⅲ Glossary