Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice
Language: Words That Go Together, New Sentences
Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions
Answers
Think Ahead: What matters most to you when you choose a fast-food restaurant?
a) The food and price
b) The speed of service
c) The place to sit and eat
Vocab List
Reading
McDonald’s plans to spend $8.5 billion by 2036 to improve its restaurants, train workers, and update its food. The company hopes the plan will bring customers back after a period of slow growth and complaints about service.
About $5 billion will be used in the next three and a half years. The money will support franchise owners, including through rent relief, and help pay for restaurant remodeling. McDonald’s says some redesigned restaurants will have larger dining rooms, bigger play areas, better lighting, and faster kitchens.
The company is also testing new food for customers who want more protein. Possible items include burger and chicken bowls, egg bites, and more grilled chicken choices. It is also considering a new value menu.
McDonald’s faces stronger competition from Burger King, chicken restaurants, and drink companies. Rising food prices have also led some people to eat out less often. Last month, McDonald’s reported its slowest quarterly growth since 2025.
Its new strategy, called Next, also includes retraining 2 million workers around the world. Company leaders said restaurants need to give customers more consistent service while becoming easier for franchise owners to run.
McDonald’s Plans Big Changes
Think Ahead: What matters most to you when you choose a fast-food restaurant?
a) The food and price
b) The speed of service
c) The place to sit and eat
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slow growth (n. phrase)
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franchise owner (n. phrase)
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rent relief (n. phrase)
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remodeling (n.)
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redesigned (adj.)
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protein (n.)
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value menu (n. phrase)
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quarterly (adj.)
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retrain (v.)
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consistent (adj.)
McDonald’s plans to spend $8.5 billion by 2036 to improve its restaurants, train workers, and update its food. The company hopes the plan will bring customers back after a period of slow growth and complaints about service.
About $5 billion will be used in the next three and a half years. The money will support franchise owners, including through rent relief, and help pay for restaurant remodeling. McDonald’s says some redesigned restaurants will have larger dining rooms, bigger play areas, better lighting, and faster kitchens.
The company is also testing new food for customers who want more protein. Possible items include burger and chicken bowls, egg bites, and more grilled chicken choices. It is also considering a new value menu.
McDonald’s faces stronger competition from Burger King, chicken restaurants, and drink companies. Rising food prices have also led some people to eat out less often. Last month, McDonald’s reported its slowest quarterly growth since 2025.
Its new strategy, called Next, also includes retraining 2 million workers around the world. Company leaders said restaurants need to give customers more consistent service while becoming easier for franchise owners to run.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
McDonald’s plans to spend $8.5 billion by 2036 to (1) its restaurants, train workers, and update its food. The company hopes the plan will bring customers back after a period of slow growth and complaints about service.
About $5 billion will be used in the next three and a half years. The money will support franchise owners, including through rent relief, and help pay for restaurant (2) . McDonald’s says some redesigned restaurants will have larger dining rooms, bigger play areas, better lighting, and faster kitchens.
The company is also testing new food for customers who want more (3) . Possible items include burger and chicken bowls, egg bites, and more grilled chicken choices. It is also considering a new value menu.
McDonald’s faces stronger (4) from Burger King, chicken restaurants, and drink companies. Rising food prices have also led some people to eat out less often. Last month, McDonald’s (5) its slowest quarterly growth since 2025.
Its new strategy, called Next, also includes retraining 2 million workers around the world. Company leaders said restaurants need to give customers more (6) service while becoming easier for franchise owners to run.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- McDonald’s is investing in restaurants, food, and workers to improve service and win back customers. Correct answer
- McDonald’s is mainly changing its menu and value deals to compete with other restaurants.
- McDonald’s is focusing on helping franchise owners make restaurants easier to manage.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. McDonald’s plans to use $8.5 billion within the next three and a half years. TRUEFALSE False
2. Some redesigned McDonald’s restaurants may have bigger places for children to play. TRUEFALSE True
3. McDonald’s is testing food with more protein because some customers want those choices. TRUEFALSE True
4. The Next strategy focuses on changing food and restaurants. TRUEFALSE False
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. Why is McDonald’s planning to spend $8.5 billion by 2036?
a) To bring customers back after slow growth and service complaintsCorrect
b) To help franchise owners reduce costs and remodel restaurants
c) To compete by adding more high-protein food and value choices
2. What has made some people eat out less often?
a) More restaurants are offering grilled chicken
b) Food prices have risenCorrect
c) Workers are receiving more training
3. How does the Next strategy aim to help both customers and franchise owners?
a) It offers a new value menu in every restaurant
b) It adds larger dining rooms and play areas
c) It retrains workers to improve service and restaurant operations.Correct
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. consistente) service
2. franchised) owner
3. rentc) relief
4. valueb) menu
5. quarterlya) growth
a) growth
b) menu
c) relief
d) owner
e) service
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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Sales increased a little, but the company was still worried about {blank}.
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After the building was badly damaged, the landlord offered temporary {blank} to the tenants.
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The library is closed for {blank} to create more space for children to read.
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The school cafeteria was {blank} with wider doors and more tables.
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Many athletes choose foods that are high in {blank} after exercise.
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The company plans to {blank} staff before introducing its new ordering system.
New Sentences
consistent / protein / quarterly / redesigned / remodeling / rent relief / retrain / slow growth
- Sales increased a little, but the company was still worried about .
- After the building was badly damaged, the landlord offered temporary to the tenants.
- The library is closed for to create more space for children to read.
- The school cafeteria was with wider doors and more tables.
- Many athletes choose foods that are high in after exercise.
- The company plans to staff before introducing its new ordering system.
Discussion Builder
1) Giving a reason 2) Expressing purpose
Q: Have rising food prices changed how often you eat at restaurants or what you order?
A:Q: Why might a company need to retrain workers when it changes its restaurants or menu?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Have rising food prices changed how often you eat at restaurants or what you order?
A: I eat at restaurants less often prices are higher now.
because / although / unless
I eat at restaurants less often because prices are higher now.
Q: Why might a company need to retrain workers when it changes its restaurants or menu?
A: The company should retrain workers they can prepare new food correctly.
so that / even though / unless
The company should retrain workers so that they can prepare new food correctly.
Discussion Questions
- Do you eat at McDonald's? How often? If not, why not?
- When you eat at a fast-food restaurant, what kind of service do you expect?
- Do you think a redesigned restaurant can make people want to visit more often? What changes would you notice first?
- McDonald’s wants to offer more protein choices. What high-protein foods do you enjoy, and where do you usually eat them?
- Have rising food prices changed how often you eat at restaurants or what you order?
- Do you think larger play areas are still important for families today? Why or why not?
- Why might a company need to retrain workers when it changes its restaurants or menu?
- Slow growth can be worrying for a business. What can a small local business do when fewer customers visit?
- Do you usually prefer large international restaurant chains or small local restaurants? What are the advantages of each?
Discussion Questions
- Do you eat at McDonald's? How often? If not, why not?
- When you eat at a fast-food restaurant, what kind of service do you expect?
- Do you think a redesigned restaurant can make people want to visit more often? What changes would you notice first?
- McDonald’s wants to offer more protein choices. What high-protein foods do you enjoy, and where do you usually eat them?
- Have rising food prices changed how often you eat at restaurants or what you order?
- Do you think larger play areas are still important for families today? Why or why not?
- Why might a company need to retrain workers when it changes its restaurants or menu?
- Slow growth can be worrying for a business. What can a small local business do when fewer customers visit?
- Do you usually prefer large international restaurant chains or small local restaurants? What are the advantages of each?
Answers
Listening: (1) improve, (2) remodeling, (3) protein, (4) competition, (5) reported, (6) consistent
Main Idea: McDonald’s is investing in restaurants, food, and workers to improve service and win back customers.
True or False:
- False. About $5 billion, not all $8.5 billion, will be used in the next three and a half years.
- True. The plan says some restaurants could have bigger play areas, along with larger dining rooms and better lighting.
- True. The company is testing possible new food, such as bowls and more grilled chicken, for customers who want more protein.
- False. The strategy also includes retraining 2 million workers around the world to provide more consistent service.
Multiple Choice: a, b, c
Vocabulary:
- consistent: service
- franchise: owner
- rent: relief
- value: menu
- quarterly: growth
New Sentences: 1. slow growth; 2. rent relief; 3. remodeling; 4. redesigned; 5. protein; 6. retrain
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Giving a reason. 2) Expressing purpose.
- because
- so that