Question

Read this excerpt adapted from Wikipedia and answer the question that follows. All the franchised McDonald's Restaurants were built to a standard design, created by Fontana, California architect Stanley Clark Meston and featuring the Golden Arches. In the early days, there were literally two arches, one on each side of the building. The arches were lined with pink neon that flashed sequentially. The second franchised restaurant opened in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1953. The third franchised restaurant was opened in Downey, California the same year. As of 2010, the Downey restaurant remains the oldest surviving McDonald's franchise. The central idea of this passage is ________.

A. The history of chain restaurants
B. The origin of McDonald's Restaurants
C. The franchise history of McDonald's restaurants
D. The division of family in society

Answer 1

The central idea is the franchise history of McDonald's restaurants, highlighting the standardized design and the growth of the franchise, which is part of the broader McDonaldization and globalization practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central idea of the passage is about the franchise history of McDonald's restaurants. It speaks to the standardized design of its franchised restaurants and the historical growth of the franchise, noting landmarks such as the oldest surviving McDonald's franchise located in Downey, California. The highlighted details of the golden arches and the specific neon-lined arches contribute to the narrative of how McDonald's restaurants became an iconic symbol of American culture and commerce, leading to the concept known as the McDonaldization of society.

This history falls within the broader context of franchise development. The global expansion of McDonald's also exemplifies the spread of American culture and business practices worldwide, a process often referred to as globalization. Hence, the central idea best matching the passage's content is Option C: The franchise history of McDonald's restaurants.