The hamburger

The hamburger has no connection to ham. It got its name from the German town of Hamburg, which was famous for its ground steak. German immigrants to the United States introduced the "hamburger steak." At the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, hamburger steaks were served on buns for the first time. Hamburgers on buns were convenient and tasted good. This became the usual way of eating hamburgers.

How did the hamburger become the most popular, most typi­cal American food? The introduction of the bun is an important part of the answer. Another important part is McDonald's, the fast-food restaurant.

The first McDonald's was opened in San Bernadino, California, in 1949. Hamburg­ers were the main item on its menu. People liked the restaurant's fast service. By the 1960s there were many McDonald's restaurants. McDonald's was a part of nearly every community in the United States. There were also other fast-food restaurants that sold hamburgers. McDonald's alone sold millions of hamburgers a year.

Today, of course, there are McDonald's restaurants around the world. The food they serve is considered typically American. And, although McDonald's has expanded its menu, the main item on that menu is-as always-the hamburger.

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with one of the following words: buns, community, connection, convenient, introduction, typical.

1. The hamburger is not a type of ham. It has no ________ to ham.

2. Americans first put hamburgers on small, round pieces of bread, or ________ .

3. Eating hamburgers on buns is quick and easy. In other words, it's ________.

4. The hamburger is one of the most ________ American foods.

5. The ________ of the bun helped the hamburger become popular.

6. Nearly every city or town in the United States has a McDonald's to serve the ________.

Comprehension

A. Looking for Main Ideas

Circle the letter of the best answer.

1. The hamburger was _______ .

1. steak imported from Hamburg

2. a ground steak introduced by immigrants

3. a convenient bun

2. The American hamburger was different because _______ .

1. it had nothing to do with ham

2. it was convenient

3. it was served on a bun

3. McDonald's restaurants were mainly responsible for _______ .

1. every community in the United States

2. the introduction of the bun

3. the hamburger's popularity

B. Looking for Details

Write complete answers to these questions.

1. Who introduced the hamburger to the United States?

2. Where was the 1904 World's Fair?

3. How do most people eat hamburgers?

4. What do most people eat at McDonald's?

5. What do you call convenience foods like hamburgers?

6. Why is the hamburger considered a typical American food?

Popcorn

All corn does not pop. A seed or kernel of corn must have 14 percent water in it to pop. Other kinds of corn have less water and do not pop. When you put a kernel of corn on a fire, the water inside makes the corn explode. This makes a "pop" noise. That is why we call it popcorn.

The American Indians popped corn a long time ago. The Indians knew there were three kinds of corn. There was sweet corn for eating, corn for animals, and corn for popping. The Indians intro­duced corn to the first settlers, or Pilgrims, when they came to America in 1620. One year after they came, the Pilgrims had a Thanksgiving dinner. They invited the Indians. The Indians brought food with them. One Indian brought popcorn!

Since that time Americans continued to pop corn at home. But in 1945 there was a new machine that changed the history of pop­corn. This electric machine popped corn outside the home. Soon movie theaters started to sell popcorn to make more money. Pop­corn at the movies became more and more popular. Today, Ameri­cans still continue the custom of eating popcorn at the movies.

Americans use 500,000 pounds of popcorn every year. Many people like to put salt and melted butter on their popcorn. Some people eat it without salt or butter. Either way – Americans love their popcorn!