This textbook is designed so that intermediate Japanese students may learn complex grammatical structures and reading strategies at the same time that they acquire scientific and technical knowledge. The reading passages gradually increase in grammatical and structural complexity while becoming conceptually more sophisticated. Thus students with little scientific or technical background can ‘read to learn’ new knowledge. The topics include batteries, semiconductors, computers, biochips, biotechnology, and AIDS. This user-friendly textbook also keeps the interest of readers with its ample illustrations, intriguing trivia facts, and up-to-date discussion topics such as environmental issues, trade friction, intellectual property rights, and cloning.