本书依据高等院校英语专业教学大纲进行编写，旨在为英语专业的学生提供一本方便有效的有关专业基础知识的检测读本。全书由英美文学、英语国家概况和语言学三个主要部分组成，提纲挈领，重点突出，英汉对照，每部分后配有一定量的检验性练习。

本书适用于高等院校英语专业本科生、研究生，英语教师和英语爱好者。

Section One English and American Literature

 Chapter One English Literature

    I. Poetry

    Ⅱ. Prose

    Ⅲ. Drama

    Ⅳ. A Brief History of English Novels

    Exercises

 Chapter Two American Literature

    I. Prose

    Ⅱ. Poetry

    Ⅲ. Fiction

    Ⅳ. Drama

    Exercises

Section Two Introduction to English Speaking

     Countries

Chapter One The United Kingdom of Great Britain and

     Northern Ireland

    I. Geography

    Ⅱ. History

    Ⅲ. Politics

    Ⅳ. Welfare

    V. Economy

    VI. Education

    Ⅶ. Culture

 Chapter Two The United States of America

    I. Geography

    Ⅱ. History

    Ⅲ. Politics and Government

    Ⅳ. Economy

    V. Education

    Ⅵ. Race and Ethnic Groups

    Ⅶ. Holidays and Festivals

 Chapter Three Canada

    I. Land, people and History

    Ⅱ. Political System

    Ⅲ. Economy

    Ⅳ. Education and International Relations

 Chapter Four Australia

    I . Land, People and History

    Ⅱ. Political System

    Ⅲ. Economy

    Ⅳ. Cultural and Social Life

 Chapter Five New Zealand

   I. Land, People and History

    Ⅱ. Political System, Education and Economy

    Exercises

Section Three Linguistics

Chapter One Basic Concepts of Linguistics

Chapter Two Phonetics and Phonology

Chapter Three Morphology

Chapter Four Syntax

Chapter Five Semantics

Chapter Six Pragmatics

Chapter Seven Sociolinguistics

   Exercises