Combining the cultivation of integrated language skills with the training of specific language skills in its compilation, this set of textbooks can be divides into three levels (elementary, intermediate and advanced) and five series (comprehensive, listening, speaking, reading and writing), among which the comprehensive series is the bulk and the others are the accompanying series. The overall purpose is to develop and improve the students’ Chinese language skills, Chinese communication skills, integrated Chinese capabilities as well as enhance their interest and ability in learning Chinese.
The reading series includes four volumes. The Intermediate Reading Course (I) , following the Elementary Reading and Writing Course (Ⅱ), is suitable for learners with intermediate Chinese proficiency who have mastered about 2,000-2,500 common Chinese words.
This textbook includes altogether 15 lessons, each with 5 passages, except for the review lessons Lesson 8 and Lesson 15, each of which has 7 passages. Developed on the basis of the first edition, this book, taking learners’ reading habits into consideration, has each of its lessons divided into four styles of reading, i.e. reading in detail, reading through, skimming through and scanning, to train the learners’ reading skills. The passages are authentic language data taken from newspapers, magazines or the Internet. The content is up-to-date and practical and the exercises are designed diversely. Having finished this book, the learners may find their ability of reading articles of various writing styles and language registers quickly improved and meanwhile have a close look at the real and vigorous modern China.