本教程的编写紧扣大学英语教学目标的要求，配合英语教师的日常教学，同时有针对性地为大学英语四六级考试进行辅助铺垫。试题材料主要选自近几年英美等国出版的原文作品和报刊文章，选题紧紧围绕“代表性、科学性、前瞻性和操作性”的主体，由众多经验丰富的一线教师精心设计。

Passage 1
Space 104Passage 2
Purpose of Life 107Passage 3
Spiders 110Passage 4
Stress 112Passage 5
Rainforests 116Passage 6
Time Pattern in America 120Passage 7
Promote Learning and Skills
for Young People and Adults 123Passage 8
A Day in the Life of
“Salaryman” 127Passage 9
Theft Deterrent System 131Passage 10
Earthquake 134Passage 11
Votes for Women 137Passage 12
Organic Food 140Passage 13
Halloween 145Passage 14
Family Sociology 148Passage 15
Robot Cars to Do Battle in
Desert Race 151Passage 16
Astrology 154Passage 17
Landfills157Skimming and Scanning 103PART2Answer Key 209Passage 18
Absenteeism in Nursing: A
Longitudinal Study 161Passage 19
Why We Laugh 164Passage 20
The Web Is Magic but
Student’s Research Papers
Are Not 167Passage 21
Football 170Passage 22
Highway 173Passage 23
Gulf Wracked by Katrina’s
Latest Legacy—Disease,
Poisons, Mold 176Passage 24
Space Tourism 180Passage 25
Top 10 Most Dangerous
Jobs 184Passage 26
Dreams 187Passage 27
Study Styles 191Passage 28
Adjustment to a New
Culture 195Passage 29
The Good Journalism:
Why Democracy Needs
Investigative Journalism 199Passage 30
Cyber Crime 204

主编：马冬，齐齐哈尔大学大学外语部主任，博士，教授。