Unit 1 Education Is a Key 3
Part Ⅰ Warming up 3
Part Ⅱ Educational systems 6
Part Ⅲ University life 9
Part Ⅳ University campus 12
Unit 2 Colorful Lands，Colorful People 17
Part Ⅰ Warming up 17
Part Ⅱ The world’s six billionth inhabitant 20
Part Ⅲ Features of the earth 22
Part Ⅳ Short talks on listening skills 24
Unit 3 Travelling from Place to Place 27
Part Ⅰ Warming up 27
Part Ⅱ It’s the only way to travel 29
Part Ⅲ Villa Rentals 30
Part Ⅳ Language study and language appreciation 32
Unit 4 Approaching Culture 37
Part Ⅰ Warming up 37
Part Ⅱ Places to enjoy 41
Part Ⅲ Life here and there 45
Part Ⅳ International business 49
Unit 5 Net Changes Life 53
Part Ⅰ Warming up 53
Part Ⅱ Network and networking 56
Part Ⅲ Future of the Internet 59
Part Ⅳ Short talks on listening skills 61
Unit 6 For the Glory of Sport 65
Part Ⅰ Warming up 65
Part Ⅱ The sporting spirit 68
Part Ⅲ Sports and entertainment choices 71
Part Ⅳ Language study and language appreciation 73
Unit 7 Transportation 79
Part Ⅰ Warming up 79
Part Ⅱ Green Transportation Festival 82
Part Ⅲ The UN Road Safety Week 83
Part Ⅳ Asia’s cities face gridlock 85
Unit 8 Trends in Economics 89
Part Ⅰ Warming up 89
Part Ⅱ Nobel Prize winner for economics 93
Part Ⅲ “Bulls” and “bears” 94
Part Ⅳ Short talks on listening skills 96
Unit 9 For Peace and Development 101
Part Ⅰ Warming up 101
Part Ⅱ The Panama Canal handover 105
Part Ⅲ UN peacekeeping missions 106
Part Ⅳ Language study and language appreciation 107
Unit 10 Happy New Year 111
Part Ⅰ Warming up 111
Part Ⅱ Chinese New Year 114
Part Ⅲ The time ball 117
Part Ⅳ What’s your New Year’s resolution？ 119
Unit 11 Visions of the Future 123
Part Ⅰ Warming up 123
Part Ⅱ The Times capsule 126
Part Ⅲ Predictions on tomorrow 128
Part Ⅳ Language study and language appreciation 130
Unit 12 Dictation 133
Vocabulary 141
Acknowledgements 160