New Horizons College English Reading and Writing Course Textbook Guidance (2)

Author: Pan Xiaoyan, Chief Editor
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: New Horizon College English was born with the dawn of the new century. This innovative textbook was jointly compiled by scholars from several well-known domestic universities under the guidance of The College English Teaching Syllabus (Revised Edition). In line with the needs of both teaching and learning, some of the earliest teachers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University who used the textbook collaborated to write New Horizon College English Comprehension Guide. The main components and features of each unit in this guide are as follows:
1. Level Prediction: This section includes authentic multiple-choice questions (CET-4, CET-6, Postgraduate Entrance Exam) and self-assessment questions related to the text content, designed to predict readers' mastery of the language points reflected in these predictive questions before studying the text.
2. Cultural Background: This section introduces the main concepts, terminology, writing context, and relevant figures related to the unit's text, helping readers gain a deeper understanding of the material.
3. Close Reading of the Text: This is the core of the guide, including:
(1) Text Summary (Chinese-English Contrast): Provides a general overview of the central idea and writing techniques of the text, giving readers a holistic understanding.
(2) Text Structure Analysis (Chinese-English Contrast): Clarifies the overall structure of the text, making it easy for readers to grasp its organization.
(3) Writing Features: Introduces the genre, writing style, and logical flow of each unit's text, helping readers better understand the author's intent and teaching them how to structure their own writing clearly, coherently, and thoughtfully.
(4) Reading and Thinking: Includes 5 carefully designed multiple-choice and short-answer questions (with answer reference lines marked as LineX), highlighting key and challenging points in the text to assess readers' comprehension.
(5) Vocabulary and Phrases: Covers part of speech, meaning, synonyms, antonyms, example sentences, word formation, derivatives, easily confused words (homophones), and key points (collocations, distinctions, notes). Each entry is marked with the paragraph number (ParaX) and is based on the College English Teaching Syllabus Vocabulary List compiled by the Ministry of Education and the Advisory Committee on College Foreign Language Teaching, published by Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press and Higher Education Press.
(6) Complex Sentence Analysis: Translates and comments on sentences with complex structures or special meanings (original sentences marked as LineX), enabling students to fully and accurately grasp the essence of the text.
(7) Exercise Explanations: Provides answers to every question along with translations, and offers simple explanations for particularly difficult sentences.
(8) Reference Translation: The translation is polished based on the teaching materials, with more refined and creative wording. Although all the compilers are experienced senior teachers with postgraduate degrees in English, minor errors may still exist. We sincerely welcome readers' corrections.
4. CET-4 Authentic Tests: This is a distinctive feature of the book, designed to allow readers to test their actual proficiency while studying, identify their gaps, see their progress, and further motivate them to learn.
5. Answers and Explanations for Authentic Tests: Provides correct answers along with detailed explanations, summarizing the key points of each question and analyzing the test-taking patterns.
6. Red Film Self-Assessment: In the vocabulary and phrases section, each example sentence and key word in the key points is printed in red. By using the attached red transparent sheet to cover these keywords, readers can conveniently test their learning progress at any time.