Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What causes food prices to rise?
- Have you noticed any specific foods that have become more expensive recently? How do you feel when you see higher prices at the store?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- decline /dih-KLAYN/
- sales /seylz/
- grocery /GROH-suh-ree/
- stark /stahrk/
- customer /KUHS-tuh-mer/
[noun] – when something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength
There was a decline in the number of students this year.
[noun] – the number of products or services sold by a company
The company saw a huge increase in sales after the new promotion.
[adjective] – relating to the food that you buy in a store
I bought some fruits and vegetables at the grocery store yesterday.
[adjective] – very obvious and clear, often in a way that is unpleasant or shocking
There is a stark difference between the two cities’ economies.
[noun] – a person who buys goods or services from a store or business
The store offered a discount to every customer who bought something.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Rising food prices are driving more people to eat at home, which is causing a decline in restaurant sales. Inflation, which has been easing for over a year, has led to a quicker drop in grocery prices since mid-year. This marks a significant shift from earlier years when grocery costs were higher than eating out. Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, experienced a 1.1% decrease in overall sales, with Olive Garden suffering a larger 2.9% decline. McDonald’s also saw a 1.1% drop in second-quarter sales, a stark contrast to the 11.7% increase during the same time last year.
In response, McDonald’s launched a $5 value meal, while Olive Garden revived its well-known “never-ending pasta bowl” promotion to appeal to price-sensitive customers. As more consumers shift to grocery shopping, companies like General Mills, famous for products such as Cheerios, are witnessing an increase in sales. Food producers, who initially raised prices to cope with inflation, are now cutting costs to ease the financial burden on shoppers. Meanwhile, grocery chain Kroger reported a 1.2% rise in sales and expects the trend to continue as customers focus more on purchasing essential food items.
In response, McDonald’s launched a $5 value meal, while Olive Garden revived its well-known “never-ending pasta bowl” promotion to appeal to price-sensitive customers. As more consumers shift to grocery shopping, companies like General Mills, famous for products such as Cheerios, are witnessing an increase in sales. Food producers, who initially raised prices to cope with inflation, are now cutting costs to ease the financial burden on shoppers. Meanwhile, grocery chain Kroger reported a 1.2% rise in sales and expects the trend to continue as customers focus more on purchasing essential food items.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What change is happening with food prices, according to the article?
- Why are more people choosing to eat at home?
- How did inflation affect grocery prices recently?
- What is the percentage decrease in sales for Darden Restaurants?
- Which restaurant saw a larger decline in sales, Olive Garden or McDonald’s?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever chosen to eat at home instead of going out to a restaurant? If so, what was the reason for your choice? If not, why do you prefer dining out?
- Do you remember a time when a restaurant you liked changed its menu or prices? If so, how did that affect your decision to eat there? If not, how do you think such changes could impact customers?
- Do you agree that rising food prices will continue to change how people eat?
- What do you think are the long-term effects of rising food prices on restaurants? How might this trend impact the restaurant industry?
- In what ways do you believe grocery chains can compete with restaurants during times of inflation? What advantages do grocery stores have?