How is 2014 shaping up for the world's largest hamburger chain? McDonald's Corporation (MCD -0.06%) reports second-quarter 2014 earnings on July 22. While the company has been fighting flat sales trends for some time, shareholders are also following several themes that will provide insight on McDonald's prospects for the back half of this year and beyond.

In the following slide show, we examine five of the more relevant "big picture" questions in anticipation of McDonald's earnings release. After viewing the slide show, readers will have a better sense of some of the pertinent issues this quick-service restaurant giant faces in a rapidly evolving and challenging restaurant market.