本教材的精读、泛读、快速阅读和听力教程各按分级教学的要求编写六册，每级一册，供1-6级使用，语法与练习编写四册，供1-4级使用。精读与听力教程均配有教师用书，对低于大纲规定入学要求的学生，另编预备级精读、泛读教程各两册。全套教材由复旦大学、北京大学、华东师范大学、中国人民大学、武汉大学和南京发工编写，复旦大学董亚芬担任总主编。
本册共有十个单元。每一单元由课文、生词、注释、练习、阅读练习和有引导的写作六部分组成。课文全部选用原文材料。略有删改。选材力求题材、体裁多样，内容丰富有趣并有定的启发性。讲解课文时就从全篇内容着眼，并对一些常用词和词组的用法进行分析，既要防止只讲语言点而忽略通篇内容，避免只注意文章内容而忽视语言基础训练。生词释义采用英、汉结合的方式。注释尽量用浅近的英语。

UNIT 1
Text:A Brush with the Law
Study & Practice
Reading Activity
Guided Writing
UNIT 2
Text:The Woman Who Would Not Tell
Study & Practice
Reading Activity
Guided Writing
Supplementary Reading in Popular Science
UNIT 3
Text :Why I Teach
Study & Practice
Reading Activity
Guided Writing
REVISION EXERCISE 1
UNIT 4
Text:Lady Hermits Who Are Down But Not Out
Study & Practice
Reading Activity
Guided Writing
Supplementary Reading in Popular Science
UNIT 5
Test :The Day Mother Cried
Study & Practice
Reading Activity
Guided Writing
TEST YOURSELF:TEST PAPER 1
UNIT 6
Test: A Day's Wait
Study & Practice
Reading Activity
Guided Writing
Supplementary Reading in Popular Science
UNIT 7
Text:The Shelter
Study & Practice
Reading Activity
Guided Writing
UNIT 8
REVISION EXERCISES 2
UNIT 9
UNIT 10
TEST YOURSELF:TEST PAPER 2
APPENDIX