Steps & Skills系列包括阅读、写作、听力、口语等分册，旨在帮助学习者循序渐进地提高英语语言技能。本系列全部为原版引进，作者均为在语言教学与教材编写领域有丰富经验的专家。教材编排新颖，讲解生动，由浅入深，有助于学习者打下扎实的语言基础，同时增强英语思维能力。本系列既可用于课堂教学，也适合自学提高。注重基础，系统性强：介绍提高英语阅读能力的十大技巧，由基础阅读向高级阅读过渡，配有大量练习与测试题。材料丰富，趣味性强：选篇难度适中，内容引人入胜，辅以形式多样的阅读活动，帮助学习者加深理解。锻炼思维，挑战性强：系统的阅读训练与启发性的思考活动有助于学习者提高推理、分析与判断能力。使用方便，实用性强：讲解重点部分配有中文，便于学习者理解和掌握。各章内容安排合理，从讲解、举例、练习到测试，便于教学与评估。
  目　　录
  Preface: To the Instructor
  INTRODUCTION 绪论
  　1 How to Become a Better Reader and Thinker　如何更好地阅读和思考
  　2 Reading for Pleasure and Power　为乐趣和力量而阅读
  　3 Some Quick Study Tips　高效学习的捷径
  PART Ⅰ　TEN STEPS TO IMPROVING COLLEGE READING SKILLS　提高大学英语阅读技巧的十个步骤
  　1 Vocabulary in Context　语境中的词汇
  　　Reading: Night Watch　Roy Popkin
  　　Mastery Tests
  　2 Main Ideas　主题思想
  　　Reading: Here's to Your Health　Joan Dunayer
  　　Mastery Tests
  　3 Supporting Details　支持性细节
  　　Reading: Child-Rearing Styles　Diane E. Papalia and Sally Wendkos Olds
  　　Mastery Tests
  　4 Implied Main Ideas and the Central Point　隐含的主题思想和中心论点
  　　Reading: Rowing the Bus　Paul Logan
  　　Mastery Tests
  　5 Relationships Ⅰ　语句或段落间的关系（一）
  　　Reading: Students in Shock　John Kellmayer
  　　Mastery Tests
  　6 Relationships Ⅱ　语句或段落间的关系（二）
  　　Reading: l Became Her Target　Roger Wilkins
  　　Mastery Tests
  　7 Fact and Opinion　事实和观点
  　　Reading: New Respect for the Nap, a Pause That Refreshes　Jane E. Brody
  　　Mastery Tests
  　8 Inferences　推理
  　　Reading: Gender Inequality in Health Care and in the Workplace
  　　James M. Henslin
  　　Mastery Tests
  　9 Purpose and Tone　目的和语气
  　　Reading: The Scholarship Jacket　Marta Salinas
  　　Mastery Tests
  　10 Argument　论证
  　　Reading: In Praise of the F Word　Mary Sherry
  　　Mastery Tests
  PART Ⅱ　TEN READING SELECTIONS　十篇精选阅读文章
  　1 The Yellow Ribbon　Pete Hamill
  　2 Urban Legends　Beth Johnson
  　3 Sha me　Dick Gregory
  　4 The Bystander Effect　DorothyBarkin
  　5 The Real Story of Flight 93　Karen Breslau, EleanorClift, and Evan Thomas
  　6 Coping with Nervousness　Rudolph F. Verderber
  　7 Compliance Techniques: Getting People to Say Yes　Shelley E. Taylor, Letitia Anne Peplau, and David O. Sears
  　8 Lizzie Borden　James Kirby Martin and others
  　9 Nonverbal Communication　AnthonyF. Grasha
  　10 Preindustrial Cities　Rodney Stark
  PART Ⅲ FOR FURTHER STUDY　拓展学习
  　1 Combined-Skills Tests
  　2 Propaganda
  　　Mastery Tests
  　3 More About Argument: Errors in Reasoning
  　4 Writing Assignments
  Acknowledgments
  Index
  Reading Performance Chart