English Reading Practice

Human Right Number 25:
Food and Shelter for All

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

2. Read the story "Food and Shelter for All" just below it.

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

Here is the Food and Shelter for All 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 25 (the simplified version):

"25. Food and Shelter for All. We all have the right to a good life. Mothers and children, people who are old, unemployed or disabled, and all people have the right to be cared for."

Now read the short story about this important human right.

Food and Shelter for All  

It is Benny's tenth birthday. To celebrate, his parents take him out to eat at a fancy restaurant.

The food is delicious, but there is a lot of it, so Benny has leftovers to take home. He is excited about this. The server gives him a paper bag full of his extra food.

Benny and his parents walk down a busy street toward their parked car. Benny sees an older man on the sidewalk. He sits with his back against a building. He looks very tired and hungry. He holds a sign that says, "Will work for food."

Benny walks over to the man and hands him his bag of food. His parents pull him back, but it is too late. Benny gives his food away.

When they get in the car, Benny's father asks him why he gave his food away.

Benny answers, "In school, we learn about food and shelter for all."

"What?" Benny's mother asks.

Benny says, "We learn that everyone has the right to a good life. Everyone has the right to food and shelter. People who are old or unable to care for themselves have the right to be cared for. So I gave him my food."

His parents are quiet for a minute. Then his father says, "Wow, Benny. That is very kind of you."

And now, practice:

Exercise 01

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