Reading Worksheet ⇆ Set printer to double-sided before printing
Reading Worksheet

The Restaurant Game

B1 First Conditional: Business Decisions and Consequences Food and Business 25 minutes
Before You Read

Discuss these questions with a partner before you read.

  • Have you ever worked in a restaurant, cafe, or food business? What was it like?
  • If you opened a restaurant, what kind of food would you serve? Why?
  • What do you think makes a restaurant successful — the food, the location, the staff, or something else?
  • Have you ever left a review for a restaurant online? Does it matter to you what other people say in reviews?
Key Vocabulary
Word Definition Example
consistent (adj.) always of the same standard If the menu is short, the food will be more consistent.
seasonal (adj.) available or typical at a certain time of year Seasonal ingredients are fresher and often cheaper.
flexible (adj.) able to change or be changed easily If you offer flexible shifts, you will attract better staff.
interior (n.) the inside of a building Do not spend all your budget on the interior design.
base (n.) a group of regular customers or supporters A discount will help build a loyal customer base.
budget (n.) the amount of money available for spending Plan your budget carefully before you open.
Reading Text
Magazine Article ~285 words

The Restaurant Game

Mei Chen is 29 years old. She has worked in restaurants since she was a teenager — first as a waitress, then as a supervisor, and now as an assistant manager. But her dream has always been to open her own place. This month, she is finally doing it: a small Chinese-fusion restaurant in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. Before she opens, she sat down with her mentor, a successful restaurateur named David Park, for some honest advice.

"Location is everything," David tells her. "If you choose a location near the university, you will attract younger customers who eat out regularly. If you open on a main road, more people will see your sign and walk through the door."

On the menu, David is direct. "If you keep the menu short, your food will be more consistent — your kitchen can focus on doing a few things really well. If you offer a set lunch menu at a lower price, you will fill the restaurant at lunchtime. If you use seasonal ingredients, the costs will be lower and the quality will be higher."

Staff are the next topic. "If you treat your staff well, they will stay longer — and experienced staff are gold. If you offer flexible shifts, you will attract more workers with other commitments. But remember: if one chef tries to do everything, the quality will suffer."

Marketing matters too. "If you ask your first customers to leave a review online, your rating will improve quickly. If you offer a 'bring a friend' discount in the first month, you will start to build a regular customer base."

David ends with a warning. "If you spend all your budget on the interior design, you will have nothing left for unexpected problems. If you plan for slow weeks in January, you will not panic when they come." Mei smiles. "If I make the right decisions," she says, "I will build something I am proud of."

Notice the Grammar

Look at this sentence from the article: 'If you keep the menu short, your food will be more consistent.' Underline the verb in each part. What tense is used after 'if'? What form is used in the result? Is this situation real and possible, or imaginary? How do you know?

1 Reading for Gist

Answer these questions in a few words. You do not need to write full sentences.

  1. What is Mei Chen opening?
  2. Who is David Park?
  3. What is the main purpose of the article?
2 Reading for Detail

Write short answers using information from the article.

  1. How long has Mei been working in restaurants?
  2. According to David, what will happen if Mei offers a set lunch menu at a lower price?
  3. What does David warn will happen if one chef tries to do everything?
  4. What does David say Mei should do to improve her online rating quickly?  a) Pay for online advertising. b) Ask her first customers to leave a review. c) Open a social media account. 
  5. What does David warn about spending all the budget on interior design?
3 True, False, or Not Given

Read each statement. Write T (True), F (False), or NG (Not Given). If the answer is False, write what is correct.

  1. If Mei opens near the university, she will attract younger customers.
  2. David says a longer menu will make the food more consistent.
  3. Mei has already chosen the exact location for her restaurant.
  4. David advises Mei to plan for quiet periods in January.
  5. Mei has worked as a chef in a restaurant before.
4 Vocabulary in Context

Answer these questions about words and phrases from the article.

  1. In paragraph 4, David says 'experienced staff are gold'. This expression means:  a) Experienced staff are very expensive. b) Experienced staff are extremely valuable. c) Experienced staff wear golden uniforms. 
  2. David says 'if you plan for slow weeks in January, you will not panic when they come'. Why is January likely to be slow for a restaurant?
  3. Find a word in paragraph 3 that means 'a person who prepares and sells food commercially, especially who owns a restaurant'. 
  4. Mei says: 'If I make the right decisions, I will build something I am proud of.' In your own words, what does she mean?
5 Grammar in Context

Complete these activities about the first conditional.

  1. Find five first conditional sentences from the article. Write the if-clause and result clause for each.
    a)  b)  c)  d)  e) 
  2. Mei says 'If I make the right decisions, I will build something I am proud of.' Is this certain or just possible? How does the first conditional show this?
  3. Which sentence is a correct first conditional?  a) If she opened near the university, she would attract young customers. b) If she opens near the university, she will attract young customers. c) If she will open near the university, she attracts young customers. 
  4. Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb. (a) If Mei _____ (keep) the menu short, the food _____ (be) more consistent. (b) If she _____ (treat) her staff well, they _____ (stay) longer. (c) If customers _____ (leave) reviews, her rating _____ (improve) quickly.
  5. Imagine you are opening a business. Write three first conditional sentences about decisions and their consequences. What will happen if you make good choices?
Personal Response — Discuss with a partner

Discuss with a partner. Share one idea with the class.

  1. If you could open any kind of business, what would it be? What is one important decision you would have to make?
  2. David gives Mei a lot of advice in this article. Do you think it is easy to follow advice when it is your own dream? Why or why not?
  3. Write one first conditional sentence about a decision Mei could make and its possible result. Share it with the class.

Answer Key

The Restaurant Game — B1 — First Conditional: Business Decisions and Consequences

Exercise 1 — Reading for Gist

  1. A small Chinese-fusion restaurant in Manchester.
  2. Mei's mentor / a successful restaurateur.
  3. To show the advice David gives Mei about opening a restaurant / to illustrate business decisions and their consequences.

Exercise 2 — Reading for Detail

  1. Since she was a teenager (approximately ten or more years).
  2. She will fill the restaurant at lunchtime.
  3. The quality will suffer.
  4. b)
  5. There will be nothing left for unexpected problems.

Exercise 3 — True, False, or Not Given

  1. T — Paragraph 2 states this directly.
  2. F — David says a SHORT menu will make the food more consistent — not a longer one.
  3. NG — The article says the restaurant is in the Northern Quarter of Manchester but does not say whether the location was already finalised or if she is still deciding.
  4. T — Paragraph 6 states: 'If you plan for slow weeks in January, you will not panic when they come'.
  5. F — She worked as a waitress and supervisor, then as an assistant manager — never as a chef.

Exercise 4 — Vocabulary in Context

  1. b)
  2. After Christmas and New Year, many people have less money and are trying to save. They eat out less frequently. January is traditionally a quiet month for the restaurant industry.
  3. restaurateur
  4. She means that if she follows good advice and makes smart choices, she will create a successful restaurant — something she will feel happy about and feel it was worth the effort.

Exercise 5 — Grammar in Context

  1. Any five 'if + present simple, will + infinitive' sentences from the article. Examples: 'If you choose a location near the university, you will attract younger customers'; 'If you open on a main road, more people will see your sign'; 'If you keep the menu short, your food will be more consistent'; 'If you offer a set lunch menu, you will fill the restaurant at lunchtime'; 'If you use seasonal ingredients, the costs will be lower'; 'If you treat your staff well, they will stay longer'; 'If you offer flexible shifts, you will attract more workers'; 'If one chef tries to do everything, the quality will suffer'; 'If you ask your first customers to leave a review, your rating will improve'; 'If you offer a discount in the first month, you will build a regular customer base'; 'If you spend all your budget on interior design, you will have nothing left'; 'If you plan for slow weeks in January, you will not panic'; 'If I make the right decisions, I will build something I am proud of'.
  2. It is possible but not certain — it is a realistic prediction. First conditional (if + present simple + will) shows the situation is genuinely possible, not imaginary. The result will follow IF the condition is met.
  3. b)
  4. (a) keeps / will be. (b) treats / will stay. (c) leave / will improve.
  5. Answers will vary. Answers will vary. Check: if + present simple, will + infinitive. Both clauses correct. Encourage creative but realistic

Notice the Grammar — suggested answers

Accept any five correct examples from the article that use the target grammar. Students should be able to explain why the grammar is used in each case.

Personal Response

Answers will vary. This section is for spoken discussion or short written response. There are no single correct answers.