本书共八个单元，每个单元围绕一个主题进行选材，内容涵盖文化、生命科学、艺术、自然、社会、技术与工程、心理学、经济学等。每单元包括六大板块：学习目标、听说训练、读写训练、技能加油站、学术词汇和学习反思日志。 本教材的内容编排依据语言学习理论，先有语言输入（听、读），再有语言输出（说、写）将学科内容与技能训练有机结合，将听说读写有机结合。 本教材的教学重心不再是词汇和语法的讲解，而是对学术讲座和学术文章的篇章结构的分析和中心思想的提取，从而提高学生的学术文本结构和学术规范意识，培养学生的通用学术英语能力。本教材的听力材料来自公开的视频或音频节目，阅读文章大多选自英美杂志、学术期刊或学术专著，语料真实，具有时代感。

前辅文
UNIT 1 Cultural Studies
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   Pop Culture in the Arab World
  Reading & Writing
   Text A Intelligence Across Cultures
   Text B The Death of the US Shopping Mall
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 2 Life Science
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   The Mysterious Workings of the Adolescent Brain
  Reading & Writing
   Text A Can Musical Experiences Enhance Intelligence?
   Text B Smokescreen: Are E-Cigarettes Safe?
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 3 Art
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   Read It or See It
   The Life, Times and Rhymes of Shakespeare
  Reading & Writing
   Text A On Art and Artist
   Text B Film: Art or Business
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 4 Man and Nature
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   Curating Humanity’s Heritage
  Reading & Writing
   Text A Are We Alone in the Universe?
   Text B Darwin and Human Nature: An Introduction
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 5 Social Issues
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   Why Is ‘X’ the Unknown
  Reading & Writing
   Text A Poverty: Theories, Homelessness, and the American Dream
   Text B Social Work
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 6 Engineering and Technology
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   3-D Printing a Masterwork for Your Living Room
  Reading & Writing
   Text A Metal-Free Energy Storage
   Text B Heartbleed Shows Government Must Lead on Internet Security
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 7 Psychology
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   The Key to Success? Grit
  Reading & Writing
   Text A Dreams
   Text B Ambiguity and Illusions in Perception
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 8 Economics and Management
  Learning Objectives
  Listening & Speaking
   The Currency of the New Economy Is Trust
  Reading & Writing
   Text A The Startup World
   Text B Why We Shouldn’t Trust Markets with Our Civic Life
  Skills Power Station
   Listening & Speaking
   Reading & Writing
  Academic Vocabulary
  Reflective Learning Log