These four papers look at some conditions and circumstances surrounding the literacy education movement and at education's response to a new set of cultural requirements for effective living. They provide ideas for administrators of private and public adult education programs, business and industry executives, and all concerned with adult literacy. In "Modern Adult Basic Education: An Overview" by Curtis Ulmer the state of the art is reviewed. Following a survey of the history of United States literacy, the characteristics, attitudes, and needs of the illiterate are discussed, literacy is defined, literacy legislation and training are outlined, and effective programs are described. The paper concludes with implications for the 1980s. "Critical Issues in Adult Literacy" by Oliver Patterson and Louis L. Pulling covers recruiting and retaining illiterate adults, goals of literacy programs, identifying target populations, minimizing failure, and mobilizing community resources. Adult education strategies are surveyed in "Adult Basic Education Instructional Strategies: Their Design and Improvement" by K. Owen McCullough. The paper describes roles and clientele characteristics, expounds adaptation of various learning theories to adult basic education, cites instructional techniques and materials, and predicts changes in adult education. "The Care and Feeding of Instructors of Adult Literacy and Basic Education" by Waynne B. James considers the need for quality instructors, instructor role, instructor competencies, instructor selection, and instructor training/preparation. (YLB)