6.Let's face it--there are lots of reasons to hate McDonald's:calories,cholesterol and,for me at least,that sickening feeling after munching (大口咀嚼) on McNuggets.Then there's always that childish salesman at the drive-through(免下車通道) who forgets the ketchup.
Well,add one more reason to spite McDonald's:as the global economy spirals downward,McDonald's is minting money."In the worst of times for the restaurant industry,it's the best of times for McDonald's,"says Butt Flickinger III,managing director of the Strategic Resources Group,a retail-consulting company.In fact,the company's sales have increased for 55 straight months.Profits grew 11% to $1.2 billion.
The pricing of McDonald's,highlighted by dollar-menu items like apple pies,side salads and yogurt,plus cheap combo meals is a key strength during the recession.In particular,consumers are fleeing casual,family chain restaurants for the convenience and savings of fast food.
The economy is not the only reason people are drawn to McDonald's.The company's management also deserves credit for its success.Back seven years ago,America's obesity was a hot topic,and McDonald's suffered from the strong negative reaction.Changeless food and shabby stores also kept people away."McDonald's was actively persuading customers from coming back,"says John Glass,a Morgan Stanley analyst.
Since that time,McDonald's have remodeled 11,000 stores.At a neat and clean restaurant in the Bronx one weekday evening,Brian Waters,a mailman,sat with his 9-year-old son in a booth.The bright dining area featured abstract paintings of New York City's bridges and the Statue of Liberty."It used to be dark and dull in here,"Waters says."Now it's nice and clean.I don't mind sitting here anymore."Stores have also extended hours:34% of the company's 14,000 U.S.restaurants are now open 24/7.
The menu got an upgrade too.Obscene"super-size"choices were phased out,and healthier options like apples and salads were added.The company changed its coffee blend; coffee sales have soared 70% over the past two years.Chicken McNuggets now consist solely of white meat,which has less fat and fewer calories than the darker-meat mix of old.
Like any other business in this environment,McDonald's faces some potential roadblocks.As the recession wears on,fast-food-service growth may flatten out;plus,McDonald's can expect more price competition.For example,Steak‘n Shake,the diner-style burger chain in 21 states throughout the Midwest and South,is promoting four different meal combos for less than $4."In Los Angeles,every other billboard is a 99-cent food price,"says Glass.The battle for bargain-hunting eaters is on.But given its recent winning ways,McDonald's might just add a few more billion consumers.
24.One of the reasons why the author hates McDonald's is thatD
A.there are always kids messing around in the restaurant.
B.The salesclerk always forget to clean up the drive-through
C.Children always leave the ketchup at the drive-through
D.Some salesclerk always forgets to give him the ketchup
25.What is the key for McDonald's success even during the global economic downturnA
A.Its pricing policy.
B.Its managing policy
C.Its dollar-menu items
D.Its cheap combo meals
26.What happened to McDonald's seven years ago,according to John Glass?C
A.It suggested that fast food not be abused.
B.It persuaded customers to eat elsewhere
C.The size of its customers was shrinking
D.Customers had more expectation on it
27.When the battle for bargain-hunting eaters is on,the author expects that McDonald's will most probablyD
A.Increase its management expenses
B.Open more chain restaurants
C.Have to cut its prices sharply
D.Gain more customers.
分析 我們面對(duì)現(xiàn)實(shí)-是有很多的原因仇恨麥當(dāng)勞,但是麥當(dāng)勞即使在經(jīng)濟(jì)最壞的時(shí)代,由于他們的價(jià)格政策也是最好的時(shí)代.將來(lái)也可能會(huì)有更多的顧客.
解答 24.D 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)句子Then there's always that childish salesman at the drive-through(免下車通道) who forgets the ketchup.然后總有那么幼稚的推銷員在免下車通道忘記番茄醬.所以答案選D.
25.A 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)句子The pricing of McDonald's,highlighted by dollar-menu items like apple pies,side salads and yogurt,plus cheap combo meals is a key strength during the recession.麥當(dāng)勞的定價(jià),突出了美元的菜單項(xiàng),如蘋(píng)果派,一邊沙拉和酸奶,加上廉價(jià)套餐是經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退期間的一個(gè)關(guān)鍵優(yōu)勢(shì).可見(jiàn)它的成功在于它的價(jià)格政策,所以答案選A.
26.C 推理判斷題.根據(jù)句子Changeless food and shabby stores also kept people away不變的食物和破舊的商店也讓人離開(kāi),John Glass的評(píng)論是說(shuō)麥當(dāng)勞經(jīng)營(yíng)上的缺點(diǎn)無(wú)異于將客人趕走,由此可見(jiàn),當(dāng)時(shí)麥當(dāng)勞因?yàn)榻?jīng)營(yíng)上的缺陷而導(dǎo)致顧客越來(lái)越少.所以答案選C.
27.D 推理判斷題.根據(jù)文章最后一段最后一句話:But given its recent winning ways,McDonald's might just add a few more billion consumers.但考慮到麥當(dāng)勞最近的成功之路,麥當(dāng)勞可能會(huì)再增加10億消費(fèi)者.可以推測(cè)出可能會(huì)給麥當(dāng)勞贏得更多的顧客,所以答案選D.
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