本书由外交学院英语教学专家编写，是高等院校本科英语教育核心课程教材，北京市高等教育精品教材立项项目，北京市精品课程英语泛读教学用书。

该书选材语言地道，内容新颖，题材广泛，贴近生活，时代气息浓郁，可读性强；根据不同主题设置不同单元，知识内容自成体系；练习设计合理、实用，紧扣课文内容；难易程度恰当，有助于扩大国际视野，以适应日益增长的外交与对外文化交流的需要。

UNIT ONE HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE

 Text A Children in the Balance

 Text B Chubby Gets a Second Look

 Text C The Diagnosis for Health Care

UNIT TWO PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT

 Text A Global Warming: Struggling to Save the Planet

 Text B Chemical Generation

 Text C Brazil, Alarmed, Reconsiders Policy on Climate Change

UNIT THREE AGRICULTURE VS URBANIZATION

 Text A Life on the Land

 Text B Urbanisation in China: China's Chicago

 Text C Kenyan Farmers' Fate Caught Up in US Aid Rules

UNIT FOUR US DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

 Text A IF Bush Ruled the World

 Text B Sino-US Relations: The Economic Aspect

 Text C All in the Families

UNIT FIVE THE CHANGING ENGLISH LANGUAGE

 Text A Double Trouble Speak

 Text B The World is Englishing

 Text C Bible and the English Language

UNIT SIX THE WAY BUSINESS OPERA TES

 Text A Young Entrepreneurs Have the Edge

 Text B It's What's on the Outside that Counts

 Text C If You Whistle a Happy Tune, Don't Call it a Jingle

UNIT SEVEN LIFE GOES ON

 Text A Why Montana Is Turning Blue

 Text B The Art of Unhappiness

 Text C Holding the Mirror Up to Vanity

UNIT EIGHT CHINA AND THE OLYMPICS

 Text A Beijing Olympics' Opening Ceremony Blends Technology and Tradition

 Text B Ex-Chinese Star Guides US to Win in Volleyball

 Text C Reviving the Olympic Spirit 75 Years Later

GLOSSARY