June - intermediate reading

June is when the summer starts. I like the weather in June because it’s warm and sunny without being too hot or humid, unlike July and August. It gets light very early in the morning, many hours before I get up, and doesn’t get completely dark until about 10 o’clock. In fact, the longest day is on or near 21st June. ​

There are roses and poppies in the garden. It’s also a good month for strawberries. Of course, we can buy them in the supermarkets all year round nowadays but this is the best month for naturally-grown British strawberries. We like to eat them with cream and maybe a sprinkling of sugar.

​June is a stressful month for children and young people as this is when most of the school and university exams happen. The most important exams for school-aged students are GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) at 16 years old and A levels (Advanced level exams) at 18. They need good A level results to go to their first choice of university.

The third Sunday in June is Father’s Day. Compared to Mother’s Day, it is a relatively new idea. The first Father’s Day was celebrated in America at the start of the last century. The idea came from a woman who thought that there should be a special day for fathers, similar to the one that already existed for mothers. It only started to be recognised in England some time after the Second World War. On this day, families may meet together and people give gifts and cards to their fathers.

One of the best-known sporting events of the year is the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. It’s also the oldest tennis competition in the world and is thought to be the most prestigious. It usually starts at the end of June and continues into July. Tennis is played on outdoor grass courts and players wear all white. Many famous people and members of the royal family go to watch. The most popular food served at Wimbledon is strawberries and cream!​