Spot dictation
You might think that hamburgers were invented in the United States, but that is not totally true. These round, flat cakes or patties actually came from Germany in the middle of the 19th century. They were brought to the United States by German immigrants who came from the city of Hamburg. That is why their name was Hamburger Stake. However, people in other places claim that they invented the hamburger. Perhaps we’ll never have a clear answer. But there is no question that the hamburger was a great hit. Why? Perhaps because at that time, industry was growing, and the kind of fast, practical and cheap food was needed for workers.
The hamburger became even more popular in the 1920s when the first chain of fast food restaurants was started. This chain was called White Castle. It served tiny hamburgers that were sold for only 5 cents each. Then, in the 1940s there came the drive-in restaurant where customers were served in their cars by waiters in uniform. And the hamburger was one of the most popular manu items. By now, the hamburger was ready to conquer the world and this happened with McDonalds, which was actually a hotdog stand at first. But by the early 1950s the hotdog was replaced by the hamburger. McDonalds and other fast food restaurants spring up around the world throughout the west of the 20th century. McDonalds alone has sold 12 hamburgers for every person in the world.
The importance of the hamburger to US culture remains significant. About 60% of all sandwiches that are eaten are hamburgers. According to some sources, 7% of current workers in the Untied States had their first job at McDonalds. But the face of the hamburger is changing according to the times. Nowadays it is possible to buy a chicken burger, a turkey burger, a fish burger or a veggie burger.
