本教材选用了来自互联网、国内外英语报刊杂志和书籍的英语资料，并对其中的一部分作了节选或改写。采用主题形式编排。全书分为6个部分，每个部分包含文体相对独立、主题相互联系的3个单元。其中有教师示范课文，同时安排有学习者在教师指导后进一步独立学习的文章。设计有帮助学习者克服语言文字障碍，积极建构话语意义的Preview Assistance板块。Consolidation Work板块包括深化语言体系、扩展相关知识结构的各种练习。Research Consideration是在学习课文的基础上，进一步培养学习者收集资料、分析和解决问题能力，发展言语表达能力的专项练习。
　　本教材具有信息量大，知识涵盖面广，编排形式不拘一格，易于结合多媒体技术呈现教学内容等特点，适用于英语专业高年级学生，也可作为非英语专业学生、英语爱好者达到四、六级大学英语水平后，进一步提高英语语言能力的精读教材。

Part 1　Science and Technology
　Unit 1　Section A　Duel in Cyberspace
　　　　 Section B　Digital Certificates and Encryption in Internet Commerce
　Unit 2　Section A　Einstein's Repulsive Idea
　　　　 Section B　Cosmology and 21st- Century Culture
　Unit 3　Section A　A Century of Science
　　　　 Section B　Science Does the Impossible
Part 2 Emotion and Life
Unit 1 Section A How to Find True Love
Section B Intimacy: Key to Lasting Love
Unit 2 Section A On Affection
Section B Of Love and Friendship
Unit 3 Section A The Woman in the Kitchen
Section B Unforgettable Miss Bessie
Part3 Famous Speeches
Unit 1 Section A Bradcast on Russia Being Invaded
Section B Shall We Choose Death
Unit 2 Section A The Torch Has Been Passed to a New Generation of Americans
Section B A New Season of American Renewal
Unit 3 Section A In Memory of the Challenger Astronauts
Section B My Graduation Speech
Part 4 Language and Education
Unit 1 Section A The Road to Vulgarity
Section B British English versus American English
Unit 2 Section A Politics and the English Language
……
Part 5 Literature Gallery
Part 6 Youth and Society