English Reading Practice

Human Right Number 12:
The Right to Privacy

1. Watch the video at the top of the page.

2. Read the story "The Right to Privacy" just below it.

3. Do the exercise at the bottom of the page.

Here is the The Right to Privacy video. You can watch it in your own language at www.youthforhumanrights.org. (Simply click the word "language" at the top of their homepage.)



The Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes 30 basic rights that each person has, simply because he or she is human.

This is human right number 12 (the simplified version):

"12. The Right to Privacy. Nobody should try to harm our good name. Nobody has the right to come into our home, open our letters, or bother us or our family without a good reason."

Now read the short story about this important human right.

The Right to Privacy  

Sherry, Brenda, and Gloria are old friends. They always meet for coffee on Thursday mornings.

Sherry and Brenda work together, so they know many of the same people. Thursday mornings often turn into gossip sessions about their friends and coworkers.

This morning is no exception.

"Can you believe the men Chantelle dates? They are practically criminals!" Sherry says to Brenda.

Gloria rolls her eyes and tries to change the subject, "What do you girls plan to do this weekend?"

Sherry and Brenda ignore her. "I know!" Brenda exclaims, "Alex says she is pregnant too."

Gloria says, "My kids want to go to the zoo on Saturday."

Sherry continues to ignore her. "There is also a rumor about David and bankruptcy. Did you hear that one? Apparently, he is totally broke!"

"That is enough!" Gloria interrupts. "You are both out of control! It is not okay to gossip like this! These people you work with are people, with rights. They are not characters in a book. They are real people and they have the right to live their lives however they wish. They have the right to privacy! You do not have the right to talk about them behind their backs!"

Sherry and Brenda look shocked. "Wow," Brenda says, "I guess you have a point. I did not realize. Sorry."

"Yeah, sorry," Sherry adds. "So, a trip to the zoo on Saturday, huh?"

And now, practice:

Exercise 01

Please share this page with others: