1.编写宗旨
本教程为学生提供较系统的、丰富多彩的课外阅读材料，旨在培养和提高学生的英语阅读能力，扩大学生的知识面和词汇量，从而增进学生的理解和欣赏水平。
2.全书框架
全教程共分六册，每册配有一册教师用书。
每册分8个单元，每单元有3课，共24课。每课包括以下几个部分：
⑴ 课文前没有Introduction，以便学生对课文的主要内容和背景知识有一个大概有印象，既解决阅读课文明遇到的部分困难，又能提高阅读兴趣。
⑵ 注解采用边注的形式，列出所有可能对阅读形成障碍的单词和词组，用中文或英文解释。采用边注是为了节省时间，方便阅读，降低难度。应鼓励学生边读边猜词的意思，猜不出再看边注。详细列出单词和词组的目的是使学生把列多的时间和精力转向语言的其他方面，加强对课文的整体意识。部分简单词汇不作注解，但收入附录的Glossary.发音相同而释义不同的词汇只在首次出现时注明音标。
⑶ 课文后设Reading skill，内容包括根据上下文猜测词义的练习和根据课文特点设计的、能解决本课阅读难点的阅读技能练习。安排这部分内容是为了使学生对课文的篇章结构及语言特点等有一个比较清醒的认识，把词语的学习与词语的语境紧密联系起来。
⑷ 多项选择练习的目的是引导学生加深对课文的理解。
⑸ 英译汉练习的目的是引导学生加深对课文的理解。
⑹ 思考题是要锻炼学生的分析、归纳的能力。

全新的理念，全新的材料，全新的语言，为配合《大学英语教学大纲》的实施；为适应社会对大学英语教学提出的更高的要求：上海外语教育出版社在新世纪之初隆重推出《大学英语》（全新版）系列教材，为促进我国大学英语教学再作贡献。
集体智慧的结晶：
全面合理的课程组合：
兼顾语言能力与综合应用能力的培养
素质培养与成功应试的双赢策略。

《大学英语》系列教材自1986年的试用本问世以来，受到广大师生和英语学习者的青睐，先后被千余所院校采用，成为我国高校英语教学的首选教材，并荣获全国高等学校第二届优秀教材特等奖和国家教委高等学校第二届优秀教材一等奖。在这期间，教材曾数度修订，分别在1992年、1997年出版了正式本和修订本，以适应教学需要。然而，随着我国改革开放步伐的加快，社会各方面对大学生的外语学习，尤其是他们的外语实用能力，提出了更高的要求，要求他们不仅应具有较好的阅读水平，而且还要有一定的听、说、写、译的能力。我国的大学英语教学面临着新的挑战。为此，《大学英语教学大纲》进行了修改并于1999年公布了修订本，从而推动了英语教改的进一步深化。人们纷纷探求更适合我国国情的新的教学路子。教材作为教改的一个重要方面，作为教学思想的一种载体，理应有新的作为。
正是在这种新的形势鼓舞下，上海外语教育出版社组织、策划了《大学英语》系列教材（全新版）的编写工作。在该社的全力支持、协调下，开展了广泛而深入的调研、论证工作，并在此基础上经过精心设计，认真编写出《综合教程》和《听说教程》的样课，于2000年秋季在复旦大学等院校部分班级试用，同时征询了二十多个省市，数百所院校的意见。历经近三年时间的准备后，我们决定从今秋起陆续推出全新版，更好地服务于我国的大学英语教学。
《大学英语》系列教材（全新版）（以下简称《全新版》）由复旦大学、北京大学、华东师范大学、中国科学技术大学、华南理工大学、南京大学、武汉大学、南开大学、中国人民大学、中山大学、西安交通大学、东南大学、华中科技大学和苏州大学的数十位资深教授、英语教学专家分工协作、集体编写而成。复旦大学李荫华担任总主编，董亚芬、杨惠中、杨治中担任顾问。

UNIT ONE
1.Uncle jim's wink at life
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration
2.The ant and the grasshopper
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration
3.Salvation
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration


UNIT TWO
4.Friendships
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration
5.Thanksgiving
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration
6.My grandmother，the bag lady
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration


UNIT THREE
7.How to be a scientist
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration
8.Dozing at your desk？
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration
9.Clean water：our most valuable resource
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration


UNIT FOUR
10.clementina
Introduction
Text
Reading skills
Do the following multiple-questions
Put the following into chinese
Questions for consideration
11.Lucy rowan's mother
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
12. An American Story
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration


UNIT FIVE
13. The Girl in Gift Wrap
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
14. Why I Want a Wife
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills .
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
15. Darkness at Noon
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
PUt the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration


UNIT SIX
16. Eleanor and Her Horse
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
17. Watching
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
18. Three Peach Stones
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration


UNIT SEVEN
19. Handled with Care
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
20. The Telegram
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
21. The Beekeeper
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration


UNIT EIGHT
22. Mrs. Abel
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
23. I BecameHer Target
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
24. “Look Ma， No Hands.”
Introduction
Text
Reading Skills
Do the following multiple-choice questions
Put the following into Chinese
Questions for consideration
Glossary