Standard English的专题节目与新闻节目相比，选题较为固定，但内容更为生动详尽，剖析更为深刻；多采用现场录音或现场直播，播音也完全不受死板的播音间歇的限制，而是随着情感的起伏自由处理。有的地方边想边说，时断时续；有的地方则流畅如同行云流水，轻声慢语，使听众感到十分亲切。在报道中，各地记者的电话录音和发音都不如播音员清晰纯正，被访者大都能说英语，不乏南腔北调，这样也增加了收听难度，但能听懂这些内容才是英语听力学习的最终目标。
Standard English，即美国普通话（General American），是美国人日常使用的规范英语。VOA使用“Standard English”这一词是为了区别于“Special English”。Standard English的播音速度每分钟不低于140个单词，词汇量在4 000以上，句子较长，结构复杂，内容翔实。
和Special English节目一样，Standard English也分为新闻和专题两大类。新闻节目主要有：News Now（即时新闻），这是一个24小时播出的节目；News Review（新闻回顾），则是对过去一周所发生的美国和国际上的重大新闻事件作一回顾报道。
Standard English的专题节目与新闻节目相比，选题较为固定，但内容更为生动详尽，剖析更为深刻；多采用现场录音或现场直播，播音也完全不受死板的播音间歇的限制，而是随着情感的起伏自由处理。有的地方边想边说，时断时续；有的地方则流畅如同行云流水，轻声慢语，使听众感到十分亲切。在报道中，各地记者的电话录音和发音都不如播音员清晰纯正，被访者大都能说英语，不乏南腔北调，这样也增加了收听难度，但能听懂这些内容才是英语听力学习的最终目标。
《美国英语听力活页教程》第三册精选2001—2007年的专题节目与新闻节目64篇，分4个专题，编为4个单元；每单元4课，每课4篇新闻节目，课堂上用前3篇，课外用1篇，表达同一主题，以第一篇之名为该课名称。课堂篇分为3个段落4个步骤处理，第一步是为学习1、2篇的10个生词而设置；第二、三、四步分别处理这3篇文章，具体要求是选择正确答案、判断正误和听写填空。课外篇为家庭作业（Homework），有3个要求，第一是学习10个单词，第二是泛听全文后简答问题，第三是精听后听写（教师可以酌情处理，改变要求，灵活布置）。
UNIT 1 9·11 SHoCK THE WoRLD
（9·11震惊世界）
Lesson 1 Another Pearl Harbor（又一珍珠港事件）
1—1 Historian Compares Terror Attacks to Pearl Harbor
1—2 Preliminary Number of People Killed at Pentagon Stands at 190
1—3 Eyewitnesses Describe Pentagon Attack
1—4 Terrorists Attack US Military Symbol
Lesson 2 Rescuing the Survived＆Mourning the Dead（救援幸存，哀悼死难）
2—1 New York Begins to Bury Dead
2—2 Bush Attends Memorial Service at Washington’S National Cathedral
2—3 Rescuers Search Trade Center Wreckage
2—4 US West Marks the Tragedy on the East Coast
Lesson 3 Consensus Condemns Terrorist Attacks（舆论斥责恐怖袭击）
3—1 Security Council Condemns Terrorism
3—2 NATO&Russia Pledge Cooperation Against Te~orism
3—3 Blair Calls Britain’S Parliament into Session
3—4 Asian Leaders Condemn Terrorist Attacks in US
Lesson 4 Who Is Responsible?（谁之罪耶?）
4—1 PoweH Confirms bin Laden as Key Suspect
4—2 Taleban Continue to Defend bin Laden
4—3 Arab Worid Nervous About Possible US Terror Backlash
4—4 What Lessons Have Been Learned from Te~orist Attack?
UNIT 2 THE ANTI-TERRoRISM WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
（阿富汗反恐战争）
Lesson 5 America’S Declaration of War（美国的宣战)^
5—1 President Bush Says“America Is at War
5—2 US Takes Measures Following A~acks
5—3 Bush Tells Americans to“Be Prepared for War
5—4 Dateline：A Declaration of War
Lesson 6 Altitudes from Different Countries（各国的表态）
6—1 Russia——Partner，Opponent or Bystander?
6—2 NATO Supports US with Certain Reservations
6—3 Pacific Rim Leaders Agree to Cooperate on Fighting Terrorism
6—4 Islamic Nations Support Anti—Terrorism Effort
Lesson 7 A Fast War（速决的战争）
7—1 Northern Alliance Is Ready to Capture Strategic Airport
7—2 Pentagon Officials Satisfied with the War in Afghanistan
7—3 US Special Forces Interrogating Captured Taleban Officials
7—4 Northern AHiance in Firm Control of Kabul
Lesson 8 Post-War Afghanistan（战后的阿富汗）
8—1 Afghans Face Dilemma of Creating Post—War Government in Kabul
8—2 In Short of Food and Security in Afghanistan
8—3 Alliance Seeking UN Help in Building Broad—Based Government·I
8—4 Taleban Collapse Leaves Power Vacuum
UNIT 3 MAQ WAR Ⅰ
（伊拉克战争风云Ⅰ）
Lesson 9 The Irresistible Will（无法阻挡的意志）
9—1 US Asks Other Nations to Shut down Iraqi Embassies
9—2 Anti．War Protests Continue W0rldwide
9—3 Thousands of Demonstrators Stage Anti—War Protest in Los Angeles
9-4 US Ready to Attack Iraq With or Without Allied Support
Lesson 10 US．Led Forces Approaching Baghdad（兵临巴格达）
10—1 Plan for War Keep the Peace
10—2 Coalition Troops Control Baghdad Airport
10—3 Thousands of Iraqi Republican Guard Soldiers Surrender During AlKut Battle
10—4 Coalition Planes Hit New Targets In and Around Baghdad
Lesson 11 Tony Blair Following Closely《托尼·布莱尔步步紧跟）
11—1 British Military Encouraging Iraqi Surrender in Basra
11—2 Blair Urges Britons to Unite in Support of Troops
11—3 Britain Defends Legality of Iraq Invasion
11—4 Blair Suggests British Public Should Prepare for Long Haul in Iraq
Lesson 12 Saddam Hnssein Disappearing and Appearing（萨达姆时隐时现）
12—1 Iraq Rejects President Bush’S Ultimatum
12—2 Red Cross Representatives Visit Detained Iraqi Leader，Saddam Hussein
12—3 Saddam Calls on Iraqis to Defeat Coalition Forces During TV Appearance
12—4 Rumsfeld：“Where Are Iraq’S Leaders?
UNIT 4 IRAQ WAR Ⅱ
（伊拉克战争风云Ⅱ）
Lesson 13 The Bloody Anniversary of the Iraq War（伊拉克战争血腥周年）
13—1 Demonstrators Mark Anniversary of Iraq War
13—2 One of Deadliest Days of Violence Against Coalition in Weeks
13—3 At Least 12 US Marines Die in Ramadi Attack
13—4 US Faces Another Deadly Day of Violence in Iraq
Lesson 14 Prisoner Abuse Scandal（虐俘丑闻）
14—1 Jury Sentences US Army Soldier to 10 Years for Abusing Detainees in Iraq
14—2 US Announces First Court Martial in Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Scandal
14—3 Senior US Commander Again Apologizes for Prisoner Abuse
14—4 Red Cross Warned Bush Administration of Widespread Mistreatment of Iraqi Prisoners
Lesson 15 Where Are Banned Weapons7（违禁武器今何在?）
15—1 Bush Again Defends Decision to Go to War with Iraq
15—2 Powell Defends US Stance on Iraq’S WMD
15—3 US Inspector Concludes Iraq Had No Banned Weapons
15—4 Rumsfeld Defends Intelligence on Iraq’S Weapons of Mass Destruction
Lesson 16 Hold General Elections and Transfer Sovereignty（大选还政）
16—1 Iraqi Elections to Be Held January 30
16—2 Baghdad Residents Ponder New Way of Life on Second Anniversary
of Iraq War
16—3 Bush Speaks About Iraq Power Transfer
16—4 Dr Ibrahim al—Jaafari：The Man Who May Lead Iraq
Answer Keys and Tapescripts（答案及录音文本）
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