本系列教材的编写遵循高职高专教育“实用为主、够用为度”的总体指导方针，充分反映学生英语学习的规律和要求。教材的设计充分考虑到英语专业的课程设置、课时及教学要求。
《世纪应用英语阅读精选基础篇II》(第二版)共12个单元和4个Review练习，其目的在于帮助学生进行阶段性复习并巩固所学内容。文章篇幅均限制在650-800词。每个单元设有一个主题，分别涉及大学生活、生活态度、娱乐、亲子、健康、节日、名人、生活方式、童话故事等。这些主题均与学生的现实生活息息相关，容易激发学生的英语学习兴趣。

Unit 1 College Life
Reading Strategy：Understanding Examples
Reading A What Will College Life Be Like
Reading B My Best Day&Worst Day
Unit 2 Attitude Is Everything
Reading Strategy：Understanding Pronouns
Reading A Attitude Is Everything
Reading B It’S All About Attitude：8 Ways to Stay Positive
Unit 3 Touch of Love
Reading Strategy：Understanding Proverbs
Reading A AFather’S Confession
Reading B My First Love
Review 1(1-3)
Unit 4 Entertainment
Reading Strategy：Understanding Processes
Reading A How“The Voice ofChina”Rose to Success
Reading B Movie Magic to Leave Home
Unit 5 Kids and Parents
Reading Strategy：Making Conclusions
ReadingA ALettertotheDearDaughter
Reading B The Confessions ofa Guilty Working Parent
Unit 6 Living a Healthy Life
Reading Strategy：Understanding from Context
Reading A 10 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle
Reading B Smoking
Review 2(4-6)
Unit 7 Blue Jeans and T-Shirts
Reading Strategy:Understanding Purpose and Tone
Reading A The Jeans:A Fashion Statement
Reading B Interesting Information on the Origin and Background of T-Shirts
Unit 8 Chinese Festivals
Reading Strategy:Understanding Description
Reading A Dragon Boat Festival
Reading B Double Seventh Festival and Double Eleventh Festival
Unit 9 Early Voyages
Reading Strategy:Understanding Graphics and Statistics
Reading A Zheng He and His Travels
Reading B Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Review 3(7-9)
Unit 10 The Story of Money
Reading Strategy:Understanding Arguments
Reading A The Psychology of Money
Reading B Money Tips for College Students
Unit 11 Modern Ways of Communication
Reading Strategy:Understanding Facts and Opinions
Reading A Why Did WeChat Succeed in China
Reading B What Is Facebook
Unit 12 Fairy Tales
Reading Strategy:Increasing Speed
Reading A The Adventures of Pinocchio(Extract
Reading B The Daughter of the Sea(Extract)
Review 4(10-12)
Vocabulary