1

22 August 2014

MARKET LEADER Premier Website Lessons

PRE - INTERMEDIATE

UNIT

Careers/Companies

Starting Up
Look at the title of the article and answer the questions by choosing the correct option.
1

In the title, the word names is

a) a plural noun
b) a verb in the third person

The article is about

a) the president of the USA
b) the president of McDonald's in the USA

Now read the article quickly and answer the questions that follow.

McDonalds names new US president

McDonalds has brought back former executive Mike Andres to replace Jeff Stratton as US
president as the worlds largest fast-food chain struggles to rejuvenate sales which have been hit by
competition from rivals Burger King and Chipotle and a food safety scandal in Asia.
This is the second change in leadership for McDonalds US division in the past two years as the
companys domestic sales have slumped. Mr Andres takes the helm on October 15, when the 58year old Mr Stratton retires after 41 years with the franchise.
The new president has a long history at the company: he began his career as a McDonalds
restaurant manager in California, working his way up to senior vice-president, before working at
Boston Market and Logans Roadhouse.
Mike brings a wealth of knowledge of McDonalds and has built strong relationships across the
system, as well as broader experience in the Informal Eating Out industry, said chief executive
officer Don Thompson. Hes a dynamic, proven leader and I am confident he will help lead our US
business to the next level.
Mr Thompson faces big challenges in reviving sales in North America. McDonalds same-store
sales in the US dropped 3.2 per cent drop in July, as low-income consumers continue to cut back
spending in light of the financial crisis.
McDonalds shares have also been under pressure after an expired meat scare in China, which has
strongly squeezed sales in the area.
McDonalds stock fell 0.15 per cent to $94.40 on Friday.
Reading Comprehension 1
Answer the True/False questions about the general meaning of the article.
1
2
3
4
5
6

McDonald's sales are very high.

The new president worked for McDonald's before.
The new president knows a lot about the fast food industry.
The old president is now working for Burger King.
The article talks about the new president in a positive way.
The new president is Don Thompson.

www.marketleader.net

Pearson Education Limited 2014

Photocopiable

1
2

MARKET LEADER Premier Website Lessons

22 August 2014

PRE - INTERMEDIATE

UNIT

Careers/Companies

Vocabulary
Match the words to their meanings.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

former
struggle
safety
slump
take the helm
dynamic
knowledge
cut back

become the leader

full of energy and new ideas
a sudden decrease in prices, sales or profits
information and skills you have through learning or experience
reduce the amount of money you spend on something
find it extremely hard to achieve something
happening or existing before, but not now
not being in danger

Reading Comprehension 2
Answer these questions on the article.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Who is the new president?

Where did he start working for McDonald's?
Who is the former president?
How long did he work for McDonald's?
Who are the biggest competitors of McDonald's?
What position does Don Thompson hold?
Where was there a safety problem?
How much did McDonald's stock fall recently?

Grammar
Choose the correct form of the auxiliary have or has to complete these sentences from the article containing
the present perfect tense. In one of the sentences, both forms are possible.
1
2
3
4
5
6

McDonalds _____ brought back former executive Mike Andres to replace Jeff Stratton.
The worlds largest fast-food chain struggles to rejuvenate sales which _____ been hit by competition
from rivals Burger King and Chipotle.
The companys domestic sales _____ slumped.
Mike brings a wealth of knowledge of McDonalds and _____ built strong relationships across the
system, as well as broader experience in the Informal Eating Out industry.
McDonalds shares _____ also been under pressure.
An expired meat scare in China _____ strongly squeezed sales in the area.

Discussion
Make a list of ten things that you think the US president of McDonald's will do during a normal day at work.
Which are the three most important things on your list?
Explain why to a partner.

www.marketleader.net

Pearson Education Limited 2014

Photocopiable

1
2

MARKET LEADER Premier Website Lessons

22 August 2014

PRE - INTERMEDIATE

UNIT

Careers/Companies

KEY
Reading Comprehension 1
1
2
3
4
5
6

F
T
T
F
T
F

Vocabulary
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

former
struggle
safety
slump
take the helm
dynamic
knowledge
cut back

happening or existing before, but not now

find it extremely hard to achieve something
not being in danger
a sudden decrease in prices, sales, profits etc
become the leader
full of energy and new ideas
information and skills you have through learning or experience
reduce the amount of money you spend on something

Reading Comprehension 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Mike Andres
California
Jeff Stratton
41 years
Burger King and Chipotle
chief executive officer
China
0.15 per cent

Grammar
1
2
3
4
5
6

has/have
have
have
has
have
has

www.marketleader.net

Pearson Education Limited 2014

Photocopiable