重庆市合川二中 2016 高考英语二轮阅读理解统练（16）阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的 A,B,C 或 D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项。While some dictionaries define the word “right” as “a privilege” when used in the context of “human rights”, we are talking about something more basic. Originally, people had rights only because of their membership in a group, such as a family. Then, in 539 BC, Cyrus the Great, after conquering the city of Babylon, did something totally unexpected—he set all slaves free and let them return home. Moreover, he declared people should choose their own religion. Cyrus’ statements are about the first “human rights” declaration in history. Every person has certain basic rights, simply by the fact of being human. These are called “human rights” rather than a privilege, which can be taken away at someone’s sudden desire. They are “rights” because they are things you are allowed to be, to do or to have. These rights are there for your protection against people who might want to harm or hurt you. They are also there to help us get along with each other and live in peace. Yet many people, when asked to name their rights, will list only freedom of speech and belief and perhaps one or two others. There is no question that these are important rights, but the full scope of human rights is very broad. They mean choice and opportunity. They mean the freedom to get a job, adopt a career, select a partner of one’s choice and raise children. They include the right to travel widely and the right to work without trouble, abuse and threat of arbitrary (霸道) dismissal. They even embrace the right to leisure. In ages past, there were no human rights. Then the idea turned up t...
