本书是高等学校英语专业系列教材之一，全书选材广泛，涉及面广，覆盖了教育、文化、娱乐等多个领域，编者围绕学生感兴趣的话题选材，从最尖端的科技到新鲜出炉的超级巨星再到阴云不定的全球经济，其中包括了沸沸扬扬的奥斯卡，热情沸腾的球场还有疑问重重的安然公司，等等话题大大增强了该书的可读性。

《英语泛读教程4》选材广泛，涉及面广，覆盖了教育、文化、娱乐等多个领域，真正地体现了一个“泛”字。除此之外，该书在前一册的基础上做了些调整和改进，使教材的质量进一步得以提高。编者围绕学生感兴趣的话题选材，从最尖端的科技到新鲜出炉的超级巨星再到阴云不定的全球经济，其中包括了沸沸扬扬的奥斯卡，热情沸腾的球场还有疑问重重的安然公司，等等话题大大增强了该书的可读性。本书广泛而新颖的选材使学生在学习语言本身的同时，又掌握了其他方面的知识．增长了见识。

Unit 1 Genetic Engineering

What do you know?

Text 1 Spider and Goat Mixed to Create Bio-steel

Text 2 Malaria Free Mosquitoes

Text 3 Cloning the World's Endangered Species

Text 4 GM Potatoes Deter One Pest but Attract Another

Text 5 US Foodborne Illnesses up Two to Ten Fold

Unit 2 Busted New Economy Bubble

What do you know?

Text 1 The History of New Economy

Text 2 The Greatest Story Ever Sold

Unit 3 American Corporate Scandals: The Enron Case (Part 1)

What do you know?

Text 1 Coming Storms

Text 2 Dream Job Turns into a Nightmare

Text 3 Concerns Grow Amid Conflicts

Unit 4 American Corporate Scandals: The Enron Case (Part 2)

Text 1 Losses, Conflicts Threaten Survival

Text 2 Hidden Debts, Deals Scuttle Last Chance

Unit 5 Who Advocates Tax Cut?

What do you know?

Text 1 Bush's Tax Cuts: It's Your Money

Text 2 Bush's Tax Cuts: A Form of National Insanity

Text 3 GOP Hopes to Turn Up Heat on Clinton

Unit 6 Oscar Awards

What do you know?

Text I How the Oscars Work

 Text 2 The Oscar Warrior: Part 1

 Text 3 The Oscar Warrior: Part 2

Unit 7 Matrix, How and What

 What do you know?

Text 1 "Matrix Reloaded" Sets Us First - Day Box Office Record

Text 2 Inside The Matrix

Text 3 Beyond Bullet Time

Text 4 "Matrix": Kicking Gaming Up a Notch

Text 5 Master Behind the "Matrix" Brings His Stunts to Hollywood

Unit 8 Pop Stars

What do you know?

Text 1 50 Cent Cashes in on 2003

Text 2 RIAA Certification

Text 3 Grammy Awards

Text 4 Chart News I

Text 5 Chart News H

Unit 9 Michael Jackson

What do you know?

Text 1 12 Years Old Boy Sues Michael Jackson for Not Molesting Him

Text 2 Michael Jackson Sings of D.A. on Previous Album

Text 3 A Photographic History of Michael Jackson's Face

Unit I0 Harry Potter

What do you know?

Text 1 Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets:Book 2

Unit 11 Lord of the Rings:The Two Towers

What do you know?

Text 1 Book Three, Chapter IV Treebeard

Text 2 Book Three, Chapter V The White Rider

Text 3 Book Three, Chapter Ⅵ The King of The Golden Hall

Unit 12 Yao Ming at NBA

What do you know?

Text 1 Yao Ming Chicago Workout

Text 2 Yao Ming

Text 3 No Failure to Communicate

Unit 13 David Beekham

What do you know?

Text 1 Facts

Text 2 Beckham Disgraced

Text 3 History of Hair

Unit 14 Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson

What do you know?

Text 1 Mike Tyson

Text 2 Part 2 Peak Years

Text 3 Part 3 Down Hill Slide

Key to Exerclfes