本书紧扣《大学英语课程教学要求》,聚焦阅读课的**任务,集中提高学生获取信息的能力和阅读理解能力,并让学生通过自主学习提高对四、六级考试阅读题的解题能力。
全书注重人文主义教育,通过选取生动有趣的故事,突出向善、向上、爱人、助人、乐观进取、服务社会等主题,使学生在学习语言的同时塑造自己的性格,发展健康的个性,提高自身素质。
本书注意为学生自主学习创造条件,除了注重课文的趣味性之外,还特意设计了Reading for Information;Reading for Pleasure和Test Your Reading3个板块。

Unit One
Part Ⅰ Reading for Information
Pre-reading Questions
Text: I Fell in Love, or My Hormones Awakened
Exercises
Part Ⅱ Reading for Pleasure
Text 1: Love in an Unlikely Season
Exercises
Text 2: The Baggy Yellow Shirt
Exercises
Part Ⅲ Test Your Reading
It's Radi-O
Exercises
Unit Two
Part Ⅰ Reading for Information
Pre-reading Questions
Text: Bricklayer's Boy
Exercises
Part Ⅱ Reading for Pleasure
Text 1: Lessons of a Lifetime
Exercises
Text 2: A Father's Legacy
Exercises
Part Ⅲ Test Your Reading
Lifeline
Exercises
Unit Three
Part Ⅰ Reading for Information
Pre-reading Questions
Text: Underground Rome
Exercises
Part Ⅱ Reading for Pleasure
Text 1: The Real Test
Exercises
Text 2: These Good Guys Finish First
Exercises
Part Ⅲ Test Your Reading
No Phone, No Pool, No Pets
Exercises
Unit Four
Part Ⅰ Reading for Information
Pre-reading Questions
Text: There Is No Unmarked Woman
Exercises
Part Ⅱ Reading for Pleasure
Text 1: Neighbors
Exercises
Text 2: The Spirit of the Olympics
Exercises
Part Ⅲ Test Your Reading
Why Women Smile
Exercises
Unit Five
Part Ⅰ Reading for Information
Pre-reading Questions
Text: Evaluating Scientific Explanations
Exercises
Part Ⅱ Reading for Pleasure
Text 1: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things
Exercises
Text 2: Help Your Child Make Friends
Exercises
Part Ⅲ Test Your Reading
Two Cheers for Hypocrisy
Exercises
Unit Six
Part Ⅰ Reading for Information
Pre-reading Questions
Text: Change in the English Language
Exercises
Part Ⅱ Reading for Pleasure
Text 1: Four Minutes That Get You Hired
Exercises
Text 2: The Art of Remembering Names
Exercises
Part Ⅲ Test Your Reading
Words: Our Important Tools
Exercises
Appendix Ⅰ Glossary
Appendix Ⅱ Key to Test Your Reading