本书是根据实际教学的需要而编写的一本高等院校英语选修课的教科书，它的编写旨在为学生提供一些欧美文化方面的信息和知识。它是学生们了解欧美文化的一本很好的教学用书，不但能帮助学习者学习和掌握欧美文化方面的基础知识，而且也能提高他们的语言能力和英语表达水平及综合水平。
　　本书由25个单元构成，每单元4个Readlng Passages，共计100篇短文。在每个ReadjngPassage的后面都设有词汇表、注释和句子翻译或阅读理解练习。这些文章的内容包括西方的精神追求、价值观念、议事方式、知识背景、科技和艺术等方面的情况和成就以及一些综合知识等等。我们的选材以欧美文化为主干。侧重美国文化，都是一些适合教学的质量高的文章，对培养学生的语言修养和文学素质、塑造完美人格、增强跨文化交际意识和文化鉴赏能力都有促进作用。
　　该书具有知识性、系统性、科学性、时代性、趣味性、新颖性和可读性等，方便教与学、思考和掌握。

Unit One
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Americans and Their Cars
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Sunday: A Day of Rest
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ A Green Thumb
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Tornadoes
Unit Two　　　　　　　　
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Rose Is a Special Flower
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The American Funeral: Wakes and Embalmment
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Snow Pillow
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Who was John While
Unit Three
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Indians: The Native Americans
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Melting Pot Or Salad Bowl
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Value of Gold
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The Ocean as A Storehouse
Unit Four
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Disneyland and Theme Parks
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Healthy Eating
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Forest Service at Work
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ A Symbol of the Free Spirit
Unit Five
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Cooking Our Food
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Immigrants are“Waging War”against Swedes through Robbery
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Artificial Reefs
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Coins in Our Lives
Unit Six
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Christmas Spirit by Larry Deboever
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ American Social Relations
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Keeping It Clear
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Remember You Are a Guest
Unit Seven
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Gun Control: Yes or No
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ London Bridge
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Help for The Elderly
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Handiwork of The Gods
Unit Eight
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Deaf Composer
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ A Carrot a Day May Keep Cancer Away
　Part 2 Re
Unit Eleven
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ How Jazz Began
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ How Jazz Began
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Liquids, Granules and Powders
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Cataracts
Unit Twelve
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Corporate Culture
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Analysis on Weather Report
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ A Winning Match
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Crossroads of the World
Unit Thirteen
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ National Weather Service
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Breaking Bread
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ A New Respect for Drugs
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Life Insurance
Unit Fourteen
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Birth of a New Child
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Disgrace
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Rose Hips and Dandelions
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ America's Architect
Unit Fifteen
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ The American Family
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ A Coffee to Go at the Gym
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Fifteen Tons a Minute
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Idaho's Finest
Unit Sixteen
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ US Women Try “Work When You like”Jobs
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Every Day I Prey for a Kidney
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Rub, Pour, Sprinkle, and Spray
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The Big Cheese
Unit Seventeen
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Gettysburg Today
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Prohibition
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Preparing for a Flood
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Wildlife Refuges
Unit Eighteen
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Little Rock Desegregation
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Search for Extraterrestrial Life——SETI
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Safety First
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The Human Side of Washington
Unit Nineteen
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ History of the Maori
Unit Twenty-One
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Ontario
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The American Obsession: Fast Food
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Toward Quieter Aircraft
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Cruising in the Caribbean
Unit Twenty-Two
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Thorn Birds
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The Author of the Thorn Birds,Colleen McCullough
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Changes in the Landscape
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Raiding the Icebox
Unit Twenty-Three
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Great Barrier Reef
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The Improving Economic Situation in Greece
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Construction Queries
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Looking for Lobsters
Unit Twenty-Four
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ The Second Wave of Feminism
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The Young Generation
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ Refuse or Resource?
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ Food Additives
Unit Twenty-Five
　Part 1 Reading Passage Ⅰ Whaling Era
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ A Fuel with Flavor
　Part 2 Reading Passage Ⅰ A Humble Leader
　　Reading Passage Ⅱ The Magic Potion Notion
Answers