《新世纪大学英语视听说教材》的宗旨是“还课堂教学以本来面貌”，追求“教有实效、学有实效”，使每一节课都能收到语言教学的实效。本教材把交际功能、题材、情景有机地结合在一起，注意题材体裁的多样性、语言材料的真实性、练习的趣味性，同时重视图文设计与多种媒体语言学习材料配合的综合效果，使学习过程变得生动活泼，学生愿意学、学得会。为此，教材还配套出版了电子教案和学生助学光盘，让教师便于组织课堂教学，让学生在课外有机会进行语言操练，这些措施改变了课堂教学仅仅是进行应试培训的局面，着眼在切实提高学生的英语听解能力和一定的开口说英语的能力，自从出版以来得到了使用学校师生的欢迎。

Unit 1 All About Me

Topic Introductions and relationships

Functions Informal and formal introductions

Vocabulary Relationships and life events

 Lesson A The people in my life

Vocabulary Link: Talking about relationships

Listening: Nosy Nora

Speaking: I'd like you to meet ...

Communication: Is it you?

Optional Listening: 1-4

 Lesson B Special people

Global Viewpoints: Special people

Memories

City Living: A favorite keepsake

Optional Listening: 5

Unit 2 Express Yourself!

Topic Expressing feelings through words and gestures

Functions Asking how someone is

Vocabulary Feelings; gestures

 Lesson A Feelings

Vocabulary Link: How do they feel?

Listening: Why are you smiling?

Speaking: How's it going?

Communication: High school reunion

Optional Listening: l - 4

 Lesson B Feelings and emotions

Global Viewpoints: Feelings and emotions

Greetings around the world

City Living: An important rule for traveling

Optional Listening: 5

Unit 3 Let's Eat

Topic Food

Functions Offering and suggesting

Vocabulary Adjectives describing foods; eating in a restaurant

 Lesson A Foods we like

Vocabulary Link: Talking about foods

Listening: Foods of the southern United States

Speaking: Pizza again?

Communication: Veronica's Restaurant

Optional Listening: 1 - 4

 Lesson B Favorite foods

Global Viewpoints: Favorite foods

International foods

City Living: The spicier the better

Optional Listening: 5

Unit 4 Today's Trends

Topic Modern trends and fashions

Functions Agreeing and disagreeing; giving advice

Vocabulary Family statistics -- multiples and percentages; style and fashion

 Lesson A Modern family trends

Vocabulary Link: Family statistics

Listening: Non-traditional families

Speaking: I don't agree!

Communication: Modern opinions

Optional Listening.1 - 4

 Lesson B Family trends

Global Viewpoints: Family trends

Personal style

City Living: You ought to get more exercise!

Optional Listening: 5

Unit 5 Unsoloed Mydteries

Topic Unsolved mysteries

Functions Talking about possibility and impossibility

Vocabulary Crime; mysteries

 Lesson A A detective is on the case

Vocabulary Link. Cops and robbers

Listening: The greatest detective

Speaking: The Dodd Diamond

Communication: The Lindbergh kidnapping

Optional Listening: 1 - 4

 Lesson B Mysteries and strange events

Global Viewpoints: Mysteries and strange events

City Living: Elementary, my dear Tara!

Optional Listening: 5

Unit 6 The Mind

Topic Memory and dreams

Functions Expressing degrees of certainty

Vocabulary Memory and memories; sleep and dreams

 Lesson A How's your memory?

Vocabulary Link. College reunion

Listening. Study tips

Speaking. I don't think so.

Communication. The house in my dream

Optional Listening.1 - 4

 Lesson B Strange dreams

Global Viewpoints. How's your memory?

Strange dreams

City Living. Roberto's strange dreams

Optional Listening. 5

Unit 7 Let's Celebrate!

Topic Parties, festivals and holidays

Functions Accepting and refusing invitations

Vocabulary Types of parties, describing festivals

 Lesson A Party time!

Vocabulary Link: Different kinds of parties

Listening: A catering company

Speaking: It's a pool party.

Communication: Party planning

Optional Listening: 1 - 4

 Lesson B Festivals and holidays

Global Viewpoints: What a party!

Festivals and holidays

City Living: Aloha everyone!

Optional Listening: 5

Unit 8 In the Neighborhood

Topic Neighborhood life

Functions Polite requests with modal verbs and mind; imperatives

Vocabulary Errands; describing neighborhoods

 Lesson A Running errands

Vocabulary Link: A busy day

Listening: Too much to do

Speaking: Can I help you?

Communication: An errand service

Optional Listening: 1 - 4

 Lesson B Running errands

Global Viewpoints: Running errands

My neighborhood

City Living: Claudia's errand service

Optional Listening: 5

Seriptsa