本书是英语专业本科阶段精读课经典教材，适用于已掌握英语基础知识的进入高年级的学生。全书共分16课，每课课文全部选自原文，内容、题材力求多样化，语言规范，并有一定的难度。练习旨在提高学生的独立工作能力、阅读欣赏能力和写作能力。

Lesson 1  The Middle Eastern Bazaar

Lesson 2  Hiroshima--the"Liveliest" City in Japan

Lesson 3  Ships in the Desert

Lesson 4  Everyday Use

Lesson 5  Speech on Hitler's Invasion of the U.S.S.R

Lesson 6  Blackmail

Lesson 7  The Age of Miracle Chips

Lesson 8  An Interactive Life

Lesson 9  Mark Twain--Mirror of America

Lesson 10 The Trial That Rocked the World

Lesson 11 But What's a Dictionary For？

Lesson 12 The Loons

Lesson 13 Britannia Rues the Waves

Lesson 14 Argentia Bay.

Lesson 15 No Signposts in the Sea

Lesson 16 1776