本册的编写全面贯彻“主题循环、认知选材、听说先导、自主练习”的总体编写原则，在编排体例方面充分考虑不同院校的教学实际和学生自主学习的需要，力图使本教程达到较高的教学可操作性和灵活性。

针对大学生对宇宙与自然、人性与科技的认知需求和对知识的猎取兴趣，本册的选材主题范围为：宇宙科学与生物世界、人性探究与科学技术。听说材料与课文密切相关，每单元A课文提高和巩固语言认知，B课文锻造语言拓展和输出能力。

Unit 1

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A Can We Know the Universe？

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B Our Picture of the Universe

Unit 2

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A Extraterrestrial Life

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B UFOs

Unit 3

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A The Grizzly

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B Our Disappearing Wildlife

Unit 4

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A Why Superstitions？

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B Astrology

Unit 5

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A One Vote for This Age of Anxiety

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B The Man in the Water

Unit 6

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A Symptoms

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B Cure Yourself of Unhappiness

Unit 7

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A We Are All Scientists

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B The Common Language of Science

Unit 8

Part Ⅰ Language Skill

Part Ⅱ Language in Context

 Text A Computer Addicts

Part Ⅲ Toward Productive Language

 Text B Dance of the Electronic Bee

Appendix

Vocabulary