21st Century College English Reading Selections (Volume 2)

Author: Zhang Zengjian (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-09-01
Features: "Selected English Readings for College Students" is a series of English reading materials compiled to complement college English teaching. The plan was to produce four volumes within two years, and the second volume is now available to readers. "Selected English Readings for College Students" (Volume 2) is divided into 10 units based on subject matter, with a total of 30 selected articles. Most of the selections come from recently published English and American periodicals and books, featuring fresh language and diverse styles, including stories, essays, reflections, short reviews, and news reports. During the compilation process, to ensure the "authenticity" of the original works, the texts were not arbitrarily altered. For a few articles that were overly long, minor cuts were made without any "textual processing."
Each article in "Selected English Readings for College Students" is accompanied by appropriate reading and translation exercises. The "Comprehension Check" aims to improve readers' discourse-level reading comprehension, ensuring they fully understand the entire article—from its main ideas to key details and language difficulties. As for the "Selected Sentences for Translation Practice," the inclusion of this exercise is not merely to provide readers with translation practice opportunities. Since the selected sentences are often the essence and of the articles, readers, through careful reflection and appreciation, will naturally gain a deeper understanding of the texts. Reading should be an enjoyable experience, not a burden. To savor the pleasures of reading and seek the joy within the books is the highest realm of learning and pursuit. The compilers firmly believe that among the diligent students in higher education institutions, many are those who avidly open books and deeply appreciate the essence of reading. The compilers dedicated themselves to compiling this series of English reading materials that closely mirror reality and strive to integrate "interest, knowledge, and philosophy" precisely because of this conviction. May "Selected English Readings for College Students" be well-received by this readership and ultimately become a companion in the lives of today's college students.