本书编者均是一线大学英语教师，她们拥有丰富的教学经验，熟悉教学要求，了解学生基础，因此能针对学生需求、根据学生水平，编出既适合教师讲授，又方便学生自学的教材。

本书的读者对象是致力于增加英美文化知识、提高英语语言知识和阅读能力或为大学英语四、六级考试作准备的本科学生和社会人士。

Cultural Reading

Passage 1 Pubs in Britain

 word Bank

 知识链接

Passage 2 Oregon Brewers Festival

 Word Bank

 知识链接

Passage 3 The Cultural Patterning of Space

 Word Bank

 知识链接

Passage 4 I’m Losing My Britishness

 Word Bank

 知识链接

Passage 5 International Left-Hander’S Day

 Word Bank

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Passage 6 Oscar Statuette

 Word Bank

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Passage 7 The insider’S Guide to Thanksgiving

 Word Bank

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Passage 8 Wedding Anniversaries

 Word Bank

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Passage 9 Some English Social Customs

 Word Bank

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Passage 10 Michael Jordan’S Retirement Speech

 Word Bank

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Passage 11 American Wedding Customs

 Word Bank

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Passage 12 Christmas Day

 Word Bank

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Passage 13 Features of American Campus Life

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Passage 14 The American Civil War

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Passage 15 The Voices of Time

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Passage 16 A Melting Pot

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Passage 17 A Popular American Belief

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Passage 18 British Holidays and Festivals

 Word Bank

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Passage 19 Elections

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Passage 20 Spotis in America

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Reading Skills Training

Part Ⅰ Skimming and Scanning

 解题技巧

 Execises

Part Ⅱ Word Choosing

 解题技巧

 Exercises

Part Ⅲ Detailed Reading

 解题技巧

 Exercises

Part Ⅳ Cloze

 解题技巧

 Exercises

Key to the Exercises