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。

Unit One
  Focus on:
  Chronology
  Chapter 1 Napoleon: From Schoolboy to Emperor
  Chapter 2 Pompeii: Destroyed, Forgotten, and Found
  Chapter 3 Lance Armstrong: Survivor and Winner
Unit Two
  Focus on: Process
  Chapter 4 The Internet: How It Works
  Chapter 5 Language: How Children Acquire Theirs
  Chapter 6 Hydroponic Aquaculture: How One System Works
Unit Three
  Focus on: Classification/Definition
  Chapter 7 A Tidal Wave: What Is It ? What Causes It? How Can We Predict It?
  Chapter 8 Levels of Language Usage: Formal and Informal
  Chapter 9 Power: The Kinds People Use and Abuse
Unit Four
  Focus on: Comparison/Contrast
  Chapter 10 Asian and African Elephants: Similarities and Differences
  Chapter 11 Lincoln and Kennedy: Similar Destinies
  Chapter 12 The Titanic and the Andrea Doria: Tragedies at Sea
Unit Five
  Focus on: Causal Analysis
  Chapter 13 Dinosaurs: Why They Disappeared I
  Chapter 14 The American Civil War: Why It Happened
  Chapter 15 Endangered Species: What Are the Causes
  Glossary