吕燕彬主编的《通用学术英语(中国大学先修课程)》共八个单元，每个单元围绕一个主题进行选材，内容涵盖文化、生命科学、艺术、自然、社会、技术与工程、心理学、经济学等。本教材的教学重心不再是词汇和语法的讲解，而是对学术讲座和学术文章的篇章结构的分析和中心思想的提取，从而提高学生的学术文本结构和学术规范意识，培养学生的通用学术英语能力。本教材的听力材料来自公开的视频或音频节目，阅读文章大多选自英美杂志、学术期刊或学术专著，语料真实，具有时代感。

UNIT 1 Cultural Studies
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
Pop Culture in the Arab World
Reading & Writing
Text A Intelligence Across Cultures
Text B The Death of the US Shopping Mall
Skills Power Station 020
Listening & Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 2 Life Science
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
The Mysterious Workings of the Adolescent Brain
Reading & Writing
Text A Can Musical Experiences Enhance Intelligence?
Text B Smokescreen: Are E-Cigarettes Safe?
Skills Power Station
Listening & Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 3 Art
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
Read It or See It
The Life, Times and Rhymes of Shakespeare
Reading & Writing
Text A On Art and Artist
Text B Film: Art or Business
Skills Power Station
Listening & Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 4 Man and Nature
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
Curating Humanity's Heritage
Reading & Writing
Text A Are We Alone in the Universe?
Text B Darwin and Human Nature:An Introduction
Skills Power Station
Listening & Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 5 Social Issues
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
Why Is 'X' the Unknown
Reading & Writing
Text A Poverty: Theories, Homelessness, and the American Dream
Text B Social Work
Skills Power Station
Listening& Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 6 Engineering and Technology
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
3-D Printing a Masterwork for Your Living Room
Reading & Writing I28
Text A Metal-Free Energy Storage
Text B Heartbleed Shows Government Must Lead on Internet Security
Skills Power Station
Listening & Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 7 Psychology
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
The Key to Success? Grit
Reading & Writing
Text A Dreams
Text B Ambiguity and Illusions in Perception
Skills Power Station
Listening & Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log
UNIT 8 Economics and Management
Learning Objectives
Listening & Speaking
The Currency of the New Economy Is Trust
Reading & Writing 176
Text A The Startup World
Text B Why We Shouldn't Trust Markets with Our Civic Life
Skills Power Station
Listening & Speaking
Reading & Writing
Academic Vocabulary
Reflective Learning Log