本书从历史、教育、经济、政治、体育和风俗等侧面,来展示中英美的文化风貌。所选材料均来自中英美三国的官方网站、报刊、杂志和文学评沦,兼顾语言文字的水平及内容的思想性、信息性、趣味性和前瞻性。为便于学习,各篇文章都有难词注解和背景知识介绍,还设计了相应练习,供读者操练语言点和进行口语讨论。本书所配VCD光盘,可以用于视听说教学。
本书适合于普通高等学校本科大学生进行英语应用能力拓展课程的学习,同时也可供硕士研究生、英语爱好者学习与提高英语水平之用。

前言
Chapter One History and People
Intensive Reading
Passage 1 The Living Present
Passage 2 The Spirit of the English Nation
Passage 3 Advice to Youth
Extensive Reading
Passage 1 History and People in China
Passage 2 History and People in the United Kingdom
Passage 3 History and People in the United States
Video-Watching and Discussion
Video 1 Starbucks Closes Beijing Branch
Video 2 The Queens Castle
Video 3 Forbidden City (1)
Video 4 Forbidden City (2)
Video 5 A Day with London's Community Police
Video 6 Columbia Discovered America
Video 7 The Truth Behind Lincoln
Video 8 Cho's Video Not Revealing
Video 9 Martin Luther King
Video 10 Babies of the Future
Chapter Two Education and Life
Intensive Reading
Passage 1 Learning and Personal Inclination
Passage 2 Two Essays on Education and Life
Passage 3 Commencement 2006, John Hopkins
Extensive Reading
Passage 1 Philosophy in China
Passage 2 Education in the United Kingdom
Passage 3 Education in the United States
Video-Watching and Discussion
Video 1 America's Overscheduled Kids
Video 2 China Students Face Job Shortfall
Video 3 Best College Values
Video 4 College Costs
Video 5 Getting Ahead
Video 6 The Value of Learning Chinese
Video 7 Teacher Turns Tragedy into Inspiration
Video 8 Job Search Tips for Graduates
Video 9 Need to Know
Video 10 Are Libraries Sacrificing Books?
Chapter Three Economy and Reform
Intensive Reading
Passage 1 On China's Financial System Reform
Passage 2 Fuel and Fury
Passage 3 Why Internet Shares Will Fall?
Extensive Reading
Passage 1 Economy and Reform in China
Passage 2 Economy and Reform in the United Kingdom
Passage 3 Economy and Reform in the United States
Video-Watching and Discussion
……
Chapter Four Government and Policy
Chapter Five Health and Sports
Chapter Six Festivals and Customs
主要参考文献