Unit 1 1
Passage 1 Tips for the Solo Traveler 2
Passage 2 The Art of Public Speaking 5
Passage 3 Social Support 9
Passage 4 Culture Shock 12
Unit 2 15
Passage 1 How Should You Build up Your Vocabulary 16
Passage 2 The Extrinsic or Intrinsic Education 19
Passage 3 Reading—the Most Important Way to Learn Englis 21
Passage 4 Seeking the Perfect Teaching Medium 24
Unit 3 28
Passage 1 Modem Wedding Customs and Traditions in the West 29
Passage 2 Thanksgiving Day 32
Passage 3 The American Character 35
Passage 4 Cross your Fingers 38
Unit 4 41
Passage 1 The Nuclear Age 42
Passage 2 What Do Parents Owe Their Children？ 45
Passage 3 Barbie Not the Only Thing Turning 50 47
Passage 4 WHO’s New Concern—Swine Flu A-H1N1 Virus 50
Unit 5 53
Passage 1 Internet Economy 54
Passage 2 The Rise of Industry 57
Passage 3 House Price Rise：the Global Worry 59
Passage 4 The Third Session of the World Urban Forum 62
Unit 6 65
Passage 1 The Fuel of the Future 66
Passage 2 Energy in the Future 69
Passage 3 Is the Electric Vehicle Era at Hand？ 71
Passage 4 Birth of an Antarctic Super-Berg 74
Unit 7 77
Passage 1 Touting Tea 78
Passage 2 Animals on the Move 81
Passage 3 Why We Are Touched By the Sound of Music 84
Passage 4 Diet to Prevent Cancer 86
Unit 8 89
Passage 1 The Internet Transforms Modern Life 90
Passage 2 Work-life Balance 93
Passage 3 Top 8 Modern Life Survival Skills 96
Passage 4 Laid-Off Japanese Workers Becoming Homeless 99
Key to Comprehension Exercises 102