English Reading Practice

Human Right Number 2:
Don’t Discriminate

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

2. Read the story "Don’t Discriminate" just below it.

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

Here is the Don’t Discriminate 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 2 (the simplified version):

"2. Don’t Discriminate. These rights belong to everybody, whatever our differences."

Now read the short story about this important human right.

Don’t Discriminate

Abeni is looking for a job. She used to work as a secretary in her homeland, but now she is in a new country. She can speak the language perfectly, but her accent is very strong and very foreign. Abeny is afraid employers won't want her because of it.

She tries hard to find a job. She reads all the ads and sends many resumes. She comes to the interviews and answers all the questions. Her manners are excellent. Her skills are the best. She behaves and looks very professional, but still, every time, someone else gets the job.

One day, Abeni gets to a place that she really likes. It is a big firm that takes care of car rentals. All the people there seem very nice. The manager seems very nice. Actually, everything seems very nice, but the minute she opens her mouth she feels like the manager does not want her.

At the end of the interview the manager says, "Okay, thank you." Abeni feels like he is not going to call. "This is not fair!" she thinks, "I can be his best worker!"

She starts walking away when she realizes she must tell him what she thinks. She stops, turns around, opens her mouth to speak, and does not close it until everything is said clearly.

The manager is very surprised. But Abeni is even more surprised. What about her manners? How did she do such a thing? This will be the end. But then the manager suddenly reaches for her. He asks her to sit down. He tries to smile.

"I am going to be honest with you," he says. "I am very surprised. No one ever told this to me before. But the truth is that I feel ashamed. I could see you are a great worker. I should not judge you by your accent. There will be no such discrimination in this firm. Abeni, please accept this position and work for us."

Abeni cannot believe her ears. She feels very excited. She is very happy he offers her the job. But she is even more happy she finally spoke her mind!

And now, practice:

Exercise 01

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