本书以《大学英语课程教学要求》为依据，采取“主题与技能”相结合的编写模式，即单元内容设置围绕单元主题，练习设计针对阅读技能，并参照最新四、六级快速阅读考试的题型；选材体现知识性、趣味性、实用性和文化性相结合的原则，内容新颖，体裁多样，在培养学生快速阅读技能的同时，增加了启智、促思因素，提高学生在阅读时的知识性输入和输出，从而达到学以致用的目的；每册书均配有趣味训练多媒体学习光盘，光盘选材独立，采用先进的计算机技术和有趣的游戏设计来有效训练并提高阅读技能。测试完毕后自动生成成绩报告，综合评估阅读速度和阅读理解能力，辅助学生进行个性化学习。

本系列教材采用了多技能大纲的编写原则，以全面提高学习者的英语交际能力为目标，以交际主题为线，意义构建为本，以活动为导向，任务为驱动，通过多样化的交际活动与探究式学习来进行知识建构。以形成性评价作为教学的重要评价方法，培养学生的综合分析能力和跨文化交际能力。

本系列教材由《综合教程》、《听说教程》、《阅读教程》、《综合技能训练》、《快速阅读》、《教学参考书》、电子教案、网络课程和基于教学内容的语料库等构成了完备的一体化的教学解决方案。

Introduction to Important Reading Strategies and Skills

Unit One Cultural Literacy

 Passage 1 The Value of Cultural Literacy

 Passage 2 Cultural Literacy for the Young and the Nation

Unit Two Getting Things Done

 Passage I A Good To-do List

 Passage 2 The Art of the Doable To-do List

Unit Three Controversial Issues

 Passage I Cloning: Ethical or Unethical?

 Passage 2 Write or Wrong: The Death of Handwriting?

Unit Four Environmental Issues

 Passage 1 Is Economic Recession Good for the Environment?

 Passage 2 Your Home: Healthy or Unhealthy?

Unit Five Tradition

 Passage 1 Christmas Celebrations in Finland

 Passage 2 My Culture Shock Experience

Unit Six Disaster

 Passage 1 Seasonal Flu and Swine Flu Fundamentals

 Passage 2 Acid Rain

Unit Seven Emergency

 Passage I Roadside Inferno

 Passage 2 At the Critical Moment

Unit Eight Books

 Passage I J. K. Rowling

 Passage 2 World Digital Library

Unit Nine Magazines

 Passage 1 The Time Magazine

 Passage 2 Seattle, Washington

Unit Ten Health

 Passage 1 Dancing in the Park

 Passage 2 3-D Movies: A Pain in the Head

Unit Eleven Life Choices

 Passage 1 Life Is All About Choices

 Passage 2 How to Choose Your College Major

Unit Twelve Holidays

 Passage 1 Japanese Girls" Day

 Passage 2 Boxing Day

Unit Thirteen Inventions (I)

 Passage 1 Yo-yo

 Passage 2 Paper-thin Batteries Made from Algae

Unit Fourteen Inventions (11)

 Passage 1 Clever New Fan Has No Blades

 Passage 2 Fake Shark Skin Could Make Navy Fleet Faster

Unit Fifteen Prism of the World

 Passage 1 How to Choose a Proper Job

 Passage 2 Life's Five Toughest Questions

Unit Sixteen Enjoying the World

 Passage 1 An Italian Lake in Southern Austria

 Passage 2 Unexpected Pleasures of Walking in Madrid

Answer Key