Back to school The summer holidays are the longest

Back to school
The summer holidays are the longest school break in the
year. They give students a chance to relax and do outdoor
activities when the weather is good as well as to avoid
studying during heatwaves.
The beginning and end dates as well as the total length of summer school
holidays vary around the world. In the northern hemisphere students tend to
take their summer break sometime between June and August, whereas in
the southern hemisphere the summer holidays usually take place from
November to January.
In Britain, schools are closed for the summer for around 6 weeks. Irish
students enjoy their summer break for as long as 3 months. In contrast, the
summer holiday in Japanese schools lasts only about 4 weeks. In some
countries, including Germany and France, the summer holidays start and end
on different dates depending on the region to reduce the heavy traffic.
Glossary
a destination – cel; miejsce, do którego podróżuje turysta
a heatwave – fala upałów
a hemisphere – półkula
to last – trwać
a monsoon – monsun
outdoor – na świeżym powietrzu
a summer break – przerwa wakacyjna
to vary – różnić się
Quiz
1. Which country has the longest school year?
a. Israel
b. Japan
2. What is the first day of summer in the southern hemisphere?
a. 20th or 21st December
b. 20th or 21st June
3. Which country experiences the monsoon season in the summer?
a. India
b. Greece
4. Which country is the world’s most popular travel destination in the summer?
a. France
b. Mexico
Answers: 1 b (about 240 days), 2 a, 3 a, 4 a