本书采用国外教材常见的annotated instructor's edition的做法,将学生用书和教师参考用书合二为一。该书在继续关注学生的英语语言基础训练的同时,侧重于学生的综合技能的培养。每个单元一般需用六个课时,与课文相关的主题始终贯穿于整个教案内容的安排之中。教案内容分三部分:教学目标,课时分配和教学步骤。该书可供各大专院校作为教材使用,也可供从事相关工作的人员作为参考用书使用。

Unit 1
Changes in the Way We Live
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A Mr. Doherty Builds His Dream Life
Part Ⅲ Text B American Family Life: The Changing Picture
Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: Using comparison and contrast in essay writing (2)
Unit 2
Civil-Rights Heroes
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A The Freedom Givers
Part Ⅲ Text B The Dream, the Stars and Dr. King
Part IV Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: Using library resources
Unit 3
Security
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A The Land of the Lock
Part Ⅲ Text B Why I Bought a Gun
Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: Using cause and effect in essay writing (2)
Unit 4
Extraterrestrials
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A The Watery Place
Part Ⅲ Text B IS There Life on Planets Circling Other Stars?
Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: How to write an expository essay (2)
Test Yourself (Units 1 - 4)
Unit 5
How to Celebrate Holidays
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A Writing Three Thank-You Letters
Part Ⅲ Text B Where Is Home?
Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: How to write thank-you letters
Unit 6
The Human Touch
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A The Last Leaf
Part Ⅲ Text B Thank You, Ma'm
Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: The general-to-specific pattern
Unit 7
Making a Living
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A Life of a Salesman
Part Ⅲ Text B Bricklayer's Boy
Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: How to write a synopsis
Unit 8
Cloning
Part Ⅰ Pre-Reading Task
Part Ⅱ Text A A Clone Is Born
Part Ⅲ Text B Second Thoughts on Cloning
Part Ⅳ Theme-Related Language Learning Tasks
Writing Strategy: How to write a persuasive essay (2)
Tast Yourself (Units 5- 8)
Appendix Ⅰ Key to Exercises in Parts Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ
Appendix Ⅱ Tapeseripts and Key to Test Papers
Appendix Ⅲ Glossary

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