本书是为非英语专业已完成大学英语基础阶段学习的本科学生及研究生编写的阅读教材，亦可供英语专业本科生、研究生选用。其所收阅读文章均选自近两年来原版英文报刊杂志，主题分为8个单元，每个单元3篇文章，每篇文章渐进地增加阅读长度和难度，其后附上一定的阅读理解和词汇练习，以及适量的写作练习，并附有练习答案，以方便自学。本书同样适合中高级水平的其他英语学习者和大学英语四、六级，研究生入学考试，及TOFEL、GRE等各类考生自学使用。

本书是在2003年第一版教材的基础上修订而成。新版教材在沿用原有编写理念的同时在文章选材、板块设计、练习编排等方面进行了修订。本书按主题分为8个单元，每单元包括1篇新闻，3篇文章，所选文章渐进地增加阅读长度和难度，其后附上一定的阅读理解和词汇练习，以及适量的写作练习，适合大中院校中已完成英语初级阶段学习的非英语专业学习者使用，所选阅读文章均来自近年来原版英文报刊杂志，题材多样。此外，为方便使用, 本书附有练习答案。

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四六级、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

   Reading ] 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 College.,

Part B Reading

   Reading 1 Good Education Adds Value to Both Colleges and Society

   Reading 2 OLPC: Eliminating Poverty Through Education

   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

Unit Seven Politics

Part A Lead-in

   News Reading: Thai PM Declares State of Emergency in Capital

Part B Reading

   Reading 1 Win-win Governance

   Reading 2 The New Words of War

   Reading 3 Progress Against Corruption

Part C Unit Assignments

Unit Eight Sports

Part A Lead-in

   News Reading: Michael Phelps Makes Olympic History on Busy Day in Beijing

Part B Reading

   Reading 1 Education the Heart of Olympics Says Rogge

   Reading 2 Olympics: No Regrets, No Limits--How Du Toit Lost a Leg But Won Over the World

   Reading 3 Grudge Match

Part C Unit Assignments

Key to the Exercises