July - easy reading

July is named after Julius Caesar, the famous Roman emperor. He created the first solar (sun) calendar. Before that, people used a lunar (moon) calendar.

July is usually the hottest month of the year. Temperatures are above 20°C most days but they are sometimes over 30°C. The hottest day ever in England was 25th July 2019. It was 38.7°C in Cambridge (where I live). July is also humid so it can feel very uncomfortable. Most people don’t have air conditioning. However, most English people like sunny weather and enjoy spending time outside. People often have picnics or barbecues, and there are outdoor festivals and sporting events.

The school year ends in July. The exams are finished and lessons are more relaxed. A lot of schools have a sports day. There are races and games for the children, and parents are invited to watch. Sometimes there is a race for mums and dads! State schools close for the summer around the third week of July and then the children have six weeks’ summer holiday. Private schools and universities have even longer summer breaks.