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 placeplace: To put something in a particular position carefully. — 放置；安放 in the middlemiddle: The part that is equally far from both ends. — 中间；中部 of China. It is called a city, but it feels like a small town. About one million people livelive: To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside — 居住 there, and most of them work in small factoriesfactory: A building where goods are made by machines. — 工厂 or in the fieldsfield: An area of land used for growing crops or for sports. — 田野；运动场. 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 brandsbrand: A type of product made by a particular company, identified by a name or symbol. — 品牌；牌子. For a longlong: Lasting for a great amount of time — 长久的 time, they did not think about small towns like Hanchuan. Now, they want to open many new restaurants in these placesplace: To put something in a particular position carefully. — 放置；安放. In the next three years, McDonald's plans to open 3,000 new restaurants: places where you can buy and eat food — 餐厅 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 Chinesechinese: Of or relating to China, its people, or its languages — 中国的 cities alreadyalready: Before now or before a particular time. — 已经 have many McDonald's and KFCs. The chainschain: A series of connected metal rings, or a group of shops owned by the same company. — 链条；锁链；连锁店 need new customers. Second, most of these chains in China now have Chinese ownersowner: A person who owns something. — 主人；所有者. 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 burgersburger: A flat round cake of minced meat or plant protein, usually served in a bun — 汉堡包, 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. Westernwestern: in or from the west part of the world or of a region — 西方的；西部的 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 shopping mall: a big building with many shops inside — 购物中心 opened, and then McDonald's came. Many small towns do not have a new mall yetyet: Used in negative sentences and questions to say something has not happened up to now. — 还（未）；尚（未）, so the Western chains will have to wait.
Hanchuan is a placeplace: To put something in a particular position carefully. — 放置；安放 in the middlemiddle: The part that is equally far from both ends. — 中间；中部 of China. It is called a city, but it feels like a small town. About one million people livelive: To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside — 居住 there, and most of them work in small factoriesfactory: A building where goods are made by machines. — 工厂 or in the fieldsfield: An area of land used for growing crops or for sports. — 田野；运动场. 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 brandsbrand: A type of product made by a particular company, identified by a name or symbol. — 品牌；牌子. For a longlong: Lasting for a great amount of time — 长久的 time, they did not think about small towns like Hanchuan. Now, they want to open many new restaurants in these placesplace: To put something in a particular position carefully. — 放置；安放. In the next three years, McDonald's plans to open 3,000 new restaurants: places where you can buy and eat food — 餐厅 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 Chinesechinese: Of or relating to China, its people, or its languages — 中国的 cities alreadyalready: Before now or before a particular time. — 已经 have many McDonald's and KFCs. The chainschain: A series of connected metal rings, or a group of shops owned by the same company. — 链条；锁链；连锁店 need new customers. Second, most of these chains in China now have Chinese ownersowner: A person who owns something. — 主人；所有者. 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 burgersburger: A flat round cake of minced meat or plant protein, usually served in a bun — 汉堡包, 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. Westernwestern: in or from the west part of the world or of a region — 西方的；西部的 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 shopping mall: a big building with many shops inside — 购物中心 opened, and then McDonald's came. Many small towns do not have a new mall yetyet: Used in negative sentences and questions to say something has not happened up to now. — 还（未）；尚（未）, 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