本教材引进汤姆森学习集团公司2005～2006年最新出版的视听说教材，并组织国内高校专家和教师编写了配套的教师用书，配有课堂教学DVD/MP3和磁带。主要特点是通过观看视频讲座或听录音，训练学习者英语听力技巧，提高听力理解能力，提高听学术讲座的纪录能力和口头表达能力。适应对象是英语专业课程、大学英语本科高级听说课程；特别是高级选修课程、研究生英语课程及同等水平的培训课程；如托福、雅思考试培训等。本教材还荣获了2008年第八届全国高校出版社优秀畅销书二等奖。本教材的构成是学生用书1—3册和教师用书1—3册。每单元有听前部分、听中部分和听后部分组成。课堂形式包括：讨论、单词填空、听写、再听、检查准确性、口语活动、协作学习、深入主题学习、记录以及写作等综合活动。教材内容涉及美国人口、移民、总统选举、美国家庭、宗教、婚姻、教育、多元文化、人类学、生物学等多方面，材料丰厚充实。学生用书配有MP3光盘和磁带；教师用书配有DVD光盘。建议教师和学生在学习每册之前，先预习书后的生词表。

To the Teacher i
  Unit One
   Anthropology: The Evolution of Human Endeavor
   Chapter 1 Anthropology: The Study of Human Beings and Their Creations
   Chapter 2 The Concept of Culture: Understanding One Another
  Unit Two
   History: The Passing of Time and Civilizations
   Chapter 3 The Egyptian Pyramids: Houses of Eternity
   Chapter 4 The First Emperor of China: Building an Empire and a House of Eternity
  Unit Three
   Sociology: Women, Men, and Changing Roles
   Chapter 5 The Women's Movement: From Liberation to Feminism
   Chapter 6 The Men's Movement: What Does It Mean to Be a Man?
  Unit Four
   Communication: The Influence of Language, Culture, and Gender
   Chapter 7 Classroom Communication: Language and Culture in the Classroom
   Chapter 8 Gender and Communication: Male-Female Conversation as Cross-culturalCommunication
  Unit Five
   Biology: Understanding Genetics to Genetic Engineering
   Chapter 9 The Origins of Genetics: Mendel and the Garden Pea Experiment
   Chapter 10 Genetic Engineering in the Biotech Century: Playing It Smart or Playing Roulette with Mother Nature's Designs?
  Audioscripts
  Answer Keys