“英语词汇学习丛书”由美国知名的教材教辅图书出版社Townsend Press出版，是美国大学生使用*为广泛的扩大词汇量的教学辅导图书之一。正如本丛书的编者所指出的那样，在美国一个学生的前途在某种程度上取决于他／她的词汇量的大小。对于我国广大的英语学习者来说，词汇学习当然也是英语学习的一个重要方面。
　　本丛书共有6册。每册介绍240～300个在TOEFL、 GRE、SAT等考试中经常出现的单词。本丛书的特点是提供地道的例句，让单词在多个语境中反复出现，通过例证、同义、反义、类比等关系来界定词义，使学生自然而然习得单词，与传统的死记硬背方法有着极大的不同。此外，书中部分练习题的题型与TOEFL、 GRE、SAT等考试题型相似，对有志于出国留学的学生熟悉题型也有一定的帮助。
　　史密斯所著的《英语词汇基础(第2版)》 (Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary)为本丛书的第二册，适合我国大学英语四级(CET4)水平的学生使用，也可以用作TOEFL培训初、中级阶段的辅助教材

前言
导读
Pretest of the Whole Book
Unit ONE
　Unit One Pretest
　Chapter 1 Johnny Appleseed / The Lovable Leech?
　Chapter 2 Finding Fault / What Do Your Hobbies Reveal About You?
　Chapter 3 Fixing Up Fumiture / Barbara's Date with Her Cousin
　Chapter 4 The Vacuum-Cleaner Salesman / Peace at Last
　Chapter 5 Study Skills to the Rescue! / How to Control Children
　Unit One Review （Crossword Puzzle）
　Unit One Tests
Unit TWO
　Unit Two Pretest
　Chapter 6 Toasters / A Mean Man
　Chapter 7 A Special Memory / Watch Your Manners!
　Chapter 8 Big Brothers and Sisters / Kevin's First Date
　Chapter 9 Differences in a Gym Program / Teaching A Lesson
　Chapter 10 Knowing How to Argue / A Change of School, A Change of Heart
　Unit Two Review （Crossword Puzzle）
　Unit Two Tests
Unit THREE
　Unit Three Pretest
　Chapter 11 Coming Out of a Coma / The Office Doughnut Contest
　Chapter 12 The People's Choice / The Christmas Wars
　Chapter 13 What's Your Type? / What a Circus!
　Chapter 14 Practicing Kindness / The Stinking Rose
　Chapter 15 A Modem Fairy Tale / Wolf Children
　Unit Three Review （Crossword Puzzle）
　Unit Three Tests
Unit FOUR
　Unit Four Pretest
　Chapter 16 A Mismatched Couple / A Campaign to Become Class President
　Chapter 17 The Famous Detective / Why So Quiet?
　Chapter 18 Fear of Speaking / Do You Believe in Magic?
　Chapter 19 The Miracle Runner / One of Those Days
　Chapter 20 Pregnancy and Alcohol / A Criminal with a Tail
　Unit Four Review （Crossword Puzzle）
　Unit Four Tests
Unit FIVE
　Unit Five Pretest
　Chapter 21 Traveling with Children / Saving Earth's Natural Supplies
　Chapter 22 More Fat, Anyone? / Is Prison Effective?
　Chapter 23 She Changed My Mind / So Sue Me
　Chapter 24 Fear of Public Speaking / Mrs.Thornton's Condition
　Chapter 25 Wacky Weddings / The Cost of Hatred
　Unit Five Review （Crossword Puzzle）
　Unit Five Tests
Posttest of the Whole Book
APPENDIXES
　A Answer Key
　　1.Answers to the Pretest of the Whole Book
　　2.Answers to the 　Unit Pretests
　　3.Answers to the 　Chapter Activities
　　4.Answers to the Posttest of the Whole Book
　B Word List