Why read this: This A2 version lets early-stage learners read a real news story without meeting the heavy business vocabulary. Students can follow a full argument — a place, a plan, two reasons, two problems — using very short sentences and everyday words. It is a good bridge between textbook reading and real journalism.
What to notice: Notice how every paragraph does only one thing. Paragraph 1 tells you where. Paragraph 2 tells you what the companies want. Paragraph 3 gives two reasons. Paragraphs 5 and 6 give two problems. Also notice how numbers (3,000 and 4,000) tell the reader the plan is very big.
Skills practised: Reading short informational text; following a simple argument across paragraphs; using signal words (first, second, but, so) to understand the writer's plan; and reading concrete numbers as evidence. Students also practise basic inference at paragraph level — for example, why is a new shopping mall important for McDonald's?
McDonald's and KFC are opening in small Chinese towns
Big Western food chains want new customers in the countryside
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Hanchuan is a place in the middle of China. It is called a city, but it feels like a small town. About one million people live there, and most of them work in small factories or in the fields. In January, the first McDonald's in Hanchuan opened, and many young people came to see it.
McDonald's and KFC are famous American food brands. For a long time, they did not think about small towns like Hanchuan. Now, they want to open many new restaurants in these places. In the next three years, McDonald's plans to open 3,000 new in China. KFC wants to open 4,000. Burger King, Pizza Hut and Starbucks also have big plans.
Why? There are two main reasons. First, the big Chinese cities already have many McDonald's and KFCs. The chains need new customers. Second, most of these chains in China now have Chinese owners. McDonald's in China is owned by a Chinese company, and KFC in China is also owned by a Chinese company. In November, Starbucks sold most of its China business to another Chinese company.
Chinese companies are ready to spend the money. They think small Chinese towns will be the next big market for burgers, chicken and coffee. Many American companies have stopped opening new shops in China, but the Chinese companies want to try.
It will not be easy. Chinese food brands, like Tastien and Wallace, are cheaper, and they already have many shops in small towns. Western chains must find good prices and build new ways to move their food to small towns. This is hard, and it costs a lot of money.
Another problem is finding the right place. In Hanchuan, the old markets were not good for McDonald's. A new opened, and then McDonald's came. Many small towns do not have a new mall yet, so the Western chains will have to wait.
Hanchuan is a place in the middle of China. It is called a city, but it feels like a small town. About one million people live there, and most of them work in small factories or in the fields. In January, the first McDonald's in Hanchuan opened, and many young people came to see it.
McDonald's and KFC are famous American food brands. For a long time, they did not think about small towns like Hanchuan. Now, they want to open many new restaurants in these places. In the next three years, McDonald's plans to open 3,000 new in China. KFC wants to open 4,000. Burger King, Pizza Hut and Starbucks also have big plans.
Why? There are two main reasons. First, the big Chinese cities already have many McDonald's and KFCs. The chains need new customers. Second, most of these chains in China now have Chinese owners. McDonald's in China is owned by a Chinese company, and KFC in China is also owned by a Chinese company. In November, Starbucks sold most of its China business to another Chinese company.
Chinese companies are ready to spend the money. They think small Chinese towns will be the next big market for burgers, chicken and coffee. Many American companies have stopped opening new shops in China, but the Chinese companies want to try.
It will not be easy. Chinese food brands, like Tastien and Wallace, are cheaper, and they already have many shops in small towns. Western chains must find good prices and build new ways to move their food to small towns. This is hard, and it costs a lot of money.
Another problem is finding the right place. In Hanchuan, the old markets were not good for McDonald's. A new opened, and then McDonald's came. Many small towns do not have a new mall yet, so the Western chains will have to wait.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What is Hanchuan like?
- 02
How many new restaurants does McDonald's want to open in China in the next three years?
- 03
Why is it difficult for Western chains to open in small towns?
- 04
Name three things that make Hanchuan different from a big city. Use information from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Why do Chinese companies now own McDonald's and KFC in China? Give one reason from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What is Hanchuan like?
- 02
How many new restaurants does McDonald's want to open in China in the next three years?
- 03
Why is it difficult for Western chains to open in small towns?
- 04
Name three things that make Hanchuan different from a big city. Use information from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Why do Chinese companies now own McDonald's and KFC in China? Give one reason from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words