《21世纪大学英语》（S版）系列教材根据教育部颁发的最新《大学英语课程教学要求》和《中国英语能力等级量表》以及我国高等院校人才培养特点和教学改革的最新成果编写而成，突出教育必须立德树人的时代要求，重视教学内容的实用性和针对性，在帮助学生培养正确的世界观、人生观和价值观的同时，将语言基础能力的培养与实际涉外交际能力的训练有机地结合起来，以满足21世纪全球化社会经济发展对高等院校人才的要求。
本书为《阅读教程（理工类）（第2版）》第1册，教材的编写以《大学英语教学指南》为指导，所选材料突出理工高校学科属性，兼具工具性和人文性，并以各学科专业领域基础知识为主，涵盖了科学技术、能源材料、环境气候、国际金融、一带一路倡议、教育旅游等。本册共8课，每课围绕一个学科专业主题选取了4篇文章，文后配有相关练习，包括阅读理解题、简答题、翻译题、讨论题及大学英语四级考试阅读题型练习。文章长度和难易度适中，可作为理工高校相关专业学生的英语阅读教材，也可供相关学科专业技术人员和英语爱好者学习时参考。

Lesson One Higher Education
Part Ⅰ Text
What Makes a Good University Degree Program?
Part Ⅱ Information Match
Artificial Intelligence Will Change Higher Education
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
What Is Higher Education
Part IV Critical Thinking
The Pursuit of Truth and the Mission of the University
Lesson Two Literature
Part Ⅰ Text
George Eliot
Part Ⅱ Information Match
The Literary World of Toni Morrison
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
To Be or Not to Be
Part Ⅳ Critical Thinking
J. K. Rowling's Harvard Commencement Speech
Lesson Three Economy
Part Ⅰ Text
The Belt and Road Initiative
Part Ⅱ Information Match
Belt and Road Lights Up Global Growth
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
Rural Vitalization Reaping Bountiful Harvest
Part Ⅳ Critical Thinking
How China's Growth Drives "Growbalization"
Lesson Four Law and Humanity
Part Ⅰ Text
5 Basic Functions of Law in the Society
Part Ⅱ Information Match
The Constitution as Supreme Law
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
Types of Law
Part Ⅳ Critical Thinking
Improving Future by Advancing Legal Education for China's
Secondary Students
Lesson Five New Materials
Part Ⅰ Text
Reprintable Paper Becoming a Reality
Part Ⅱ Information Match
New "Sponge" Material Could Trap Power Plant Pollution
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
A Better Battery ? The Lithium Ion Cell Gets Supercharged
Part Ⅳ Critical Thinking
Nanotechnology Offers New Ways to Fight an Endless
Pandemic
Lesson Six Geology
Part Ⅰ Text
The Science of Earthquakes
Part Ⅱ Information Match
The Quake Next Door
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
Geological Surveys Play Significant Role in Poverty
Alleviation
Part Ⅳ Critical Thinking
Geologist Li Yizu
Lesson Seven Resources
Part Ⅰ Text
The Water Crisis
Part Ⅱ Information Match
Ditching the Grid for Solar
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
Rooftop Wind Power Might Take off by Using Key Principle of
Flight
Part Ⅳ Critical Thinking
Yangtze River Belt Thriving under Reforms
Lesson Eight Arts
Part Ⅰ Text
Musicians and Music in the Time of Pandemic
Part Ⅱ Information Match
Dough Figurines Cream of Traditional Chinese Culture
Part Ⅲ Banked Cloze
Fire Painting Artist Burns His Art
Part Ⅳ Critical Thinking
Palace Lantern
Appendix Key to the Exercises