本教程最大的特点是以文化为主线，主要目的是培养研究生的篇章阅读能力，同时还侧重写作基本功的训练，尤其是对中西方的文化差异进行了非常详尽的对比。读者在提高语言技能的同时能够更加清楚地了解中西文化对语言造成的差异。

课文选材范围广泛选文涉及西方的政治、外交、婚姻、教育、男女交谈问题、英语语言的发展等各个方面。同时涉及到一些人生励志的经典文章和以西方的视角来看待中国的文章。其内容丰富，趣味性强；语言地道，表达准确经过多次筛选，所选文章均为地道的英美佳作，很多文章堪称英文经典，可读性强；写作部分学用结合写作部分讲练安排合理，既重视基本写作技能训练，又注重实际应用能力的培养，能够有效地提高研究生的写作水平；文化部分妙趣横生从语言学的角度探讨了语言与文化的关系，学生能够对其二者的关系有非常深刻的认识，并通过中西文化差异对比，开阔学生视野，学习语言的同时，学习文化；题型多样，难度适宜练习设计多样。有多项选择题、问答题、讨论题、词汇题、改错题和翻译题等，每一课的热身活动(Warming-up Activities)能够给学生更多的听说的机会。

Unit 1 Two Truths to Live By

 In-Class Reading

Two Truths to Live By

 After-Class Reading

Clearing in the Sky

 Writing

Chapter 1 The Four Steps for Effective Paragraph Writing (Part Ⅰ)

Unit 2 The Future of English

 In-Class Reading

The Future of English

 After-Class Reading

The Romance of Words

 Language and Culture

Chapter 1 Language and Culture: An Introduction

Unit 3 I Have a Dream

 In-Class Reading

I Have a Dream

 After-Class Reading

Conflict in Black and White

 Writing

Chapter 2 The Four Steps for Effective Paragraph Writing (Part Ⅱ)

Unit 4 The Fifth Freedom

 In-Class Reading

The Fifth Freedom

 After-Class Reading

U.S. Higher Education

 Language and Culture

Chapter 2 Word Meaning and Culture (Part Ⅰ)

Unit 5 Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other

 In-Class Reading

Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other?

 After-Class Reading

Marital Quarrels

 Writing

Chapter 3 Paragraph Unity, Support and Coherence

Unit 6 The Lady , or the Tiger?

 In-Class Reading

The Lady, or the Tiger? (Part Ⅰ)

 After-Class Reading

The Lady, or the Tiger? (Part Ⅱ)

 Language and Culture

Chapter 3 Word Meaning and Culture (Part Ⅱ)

Unit 7 Mark Twain--Mirror of America

 In-Class Reading

Mark Twain---Mirror of America

 After-Class Reading

The Damned Human Race

 Writing

Chapter 4 Paragraph Development——Providing Examples and Explaining a Process

Unit 8 From Popping the Question to Popping the Pill

 In-Class Reading

From Popping the Question to Popping the Pill

 After-Class Reading

Marriage among Disadvantaged Women

 Language and Culture

Chapter 4 Simile, Metaphor and Culture

Unit 9 Inaugural Address

 In-Class Reading

Inaugural Address

 After-Class Reading

Why Study Public Speaking?

 Writing

Chapter 5 Paragraph Development--Examining Cause and Effect

Unit 10 My Wood

 In-Class Reading

My Wood

 After-Class Reading

How Could Anything That Feels So Bad Be So Good?

 Language and Culture

Chapter 5 Cultural Differenes in Everyday Conversation

Unit 11 Science and the Scientific Attitude

 In-Class Reading

Science and the Scientific Attitude

 After-Class Reading

Galileo, the Stargazer Who Defied the World

 Writing

Chapter 6 Paragraph Development--Comparing or Contrasting

Unit 12 The Last Leaf

 In-Class Reading

The Last Leaf

 After-Class Reading

The Gift of the Magi

 Language and Culture

Chapter 6 Culture and Image Transfer

Unit 13 Three Days to See

 In-Class Reading

Three Days to See

 After-Class Reading

The Story of My Life

 Writing

Chapter 7 Paragraph Development--Defining a Term & Dividing and Classifying

Unit 14 China Finds Western Ways Bring New Woes

 In-Class Reading

China Finds Western Ways Bring New Woes

 After-Class Reading

A Land of Abundance

 Language and Culture

Chapter 7 Culture in English Study

Unit 15 Higher Education Crosses Borders

 In-Class Reading

Higher Education Crosses Borders

 After-Class Reading

Best Graduate Schools

 Writing

Chapter 8 Essay Development