Untitled Episode

Learn English as a native speaker reads a daily new article.  Complete with vocabulary, example sentences, pronunciation, and comprehension questions.  Today's article discusses the new blank smelly billboards released by McDonald's.     The article 'McDonald's Releases Billboards that Smell Like French Fries'  is courtesy of www.engoo.com.  You can find this article https://engoo.com/app/daily-news/article/mcdonalds-releases-billboards-that-smell-like-french-fries/W0TfeP8EEe6-VU_U4TskIg
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Transcript

McDonald's Releases Billboards that Smell Like French Fries

Vocabulary

Repeat each word, definition, and example sentence after your tutor.

recognize

Verb

ˈrɛkəgˌnaɪz

to know who or what someone or something is

He passed his friend on the street without recognizing her.

arch

Noun

ɑrʧ

a curved structure that supports the weight of a wall, bridge, etc. above it

The Colosseum has a total of 240 exterior arches.

promotional

Adjective

prəˈməʊʃənl

relating to the advertising or publicizing of a product, organization, etc.

We need to design some new promotional banners for the home page of the website.

blank

Adjective

blæŋk

empty and with nothing on it

The screen suddenly went blank during the film.

confused

Adjective

kənˈfjuzd

not able to understand something

His explanation left me even more confused than I was before.

tempting

Adjective

ˈtemptɪŋ

making a person want to have or do something

Those chocolate muffins look so tempting, but I'm trying to cut down on sweet foods.

Article

McDonald's Releases Billboards that Smell Like French Fries

People all over the world recognize the famous McDonald's golden arches. But the arches are nowhere to be seen in the company's new promotional billboards that have been released in the Netherlands.

In fact, the billboards are blank, in either red or yellow. But the fast-food giant believes people will know exactly what the billboards are advertising — not by how they look, but by how they smell.

The billboards have been placed in Utrecht and Leiden, both about a 40-minute-drive from Amsterdam, the capital.

People may be confused at first, but once they walk within 5 meters of any of the billboards, they will smell something familiar coming from inside: McDonald's french fries.

And if the smell is tempting, they don't have to travel far — all the billboards have been placed within 200 meters of a McDonald's restaurant.

"It's the first billboard where the smell becomes the ad," the company said in a video promoting the billboards.

A spokesperson from McDonald's Netherlands said that "McDonald's is all about Good Times" and since smell has been shown to help people think of certain memories, the company hopes the billboards will "remind people of Good Times at McDonald's."

The news comes not long after McDonald's announced it has partnered with Krispy Kreme. McDonald's stores in the US will start selling Krispy Kreme donuts later in 2024, and they will be available in stores all over the country by 2026.

Questions

Answer the following questions about the article.

1.

What images do the new McDonald's billboards feature?

Answer

None. "In fact, the billboards are blank, in either red or yellow."

2.

Where have the billboards been placed?

Answer

"The billboards have been placed in Utrecht and Leiden, both about a 40-minute-drive from Amsterdam, the capital."

3.

When will McDonald's start selling Krispy Kreme donuts in the US?

Answer

"McDonald's stores in the US will start selling Krispy Kreme donuts later in 2024, and they will be available in stores all over the country by 2026."

4.

What are your thoughts on the new McDonald's billboards?

5.

Do you think other companies will start using billboards that smell?

6

How often do you eat at McDonald's? What do you usually have there?

7

What do you think are some of the most tempting food smells?