In her book Slow and Steady Wins the Race, author Dahlia Williams argues that Americans have grown too busy to fully enjoy their lives. While some of her ideas seem a bit simplistic—for example, she acknowledges only in passing that many people have jobs that do not come with vacation time—she makes some compelling points about American culture. Compared to people in many other countries, Americans get less vacation time and are more reluctant to use it. In fact, Williams points out, 28 percent of people in 2014 didn’t take any vacation days because they wanted to show their dedication to the job.

Question

In her book Slow and Steady Wins the Race, author Dahlia Williams argues that Americans have grown too busy to fully enjoy their lives. While some of her ideas seem a bit simplistic—for example, she acknowledges only in passing that many people have jobs that do not come with vacation time—she makes some compelling points about American culture. Compared to people in many other countries, Americans get less vacation time and are more reluctant to use it. In fact, Williams points out, 28 percent of people in 2014 didn’t take any vacation days because they wanted to show their dedication to the job.

Williams delves into the root of this reluctance, pointing a finger at corporate cultures that value total dedication to the workplace. She quotes an unnamed worker in the field of technology, who says, “I would love to take a week off, or even a couple of days. But that’s just not how it works around here. My boss would make sure I knew that I let the whole team down. It’s not worth it.”

Williams’s book makes the reader think hard about how work has encroached on all aspects of our lives. Her conclusions about the benefits of leisure time, both to the individual and to society as a whole, left this reader thinking, “Yes, it’s worth it.” We must change the culture that values busyness above all else and remember that leisure time benefits everyone in the long run.

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

What evidence does the reviewer provide to show that some of the author’s ideas are simplistic?

(1 point)
Responses

The author acknowledges only in passing that many people have jobs that do not come with vacation time.
The author acknowledges only in passing that many people have jobs that do not come with vacation time.

The book makes readers think about how work has interfered with their lives.
The book makes readers think about how work has interfered with their lives.

The author argues that when people take leisure time, there are benefits to individuals and to society.
The author argues that when people take leisure time, there are benefits to individuals and to society.

The author blames corporate culture for making it more difficult for workers to take vacation time.
The author blames corporate culture for making it more difficult for workers to take vacation time.

Answer 1

The evidence provided by the reviewer to show that some of the author's ideas are simplistic is that the author acknowledges only in passing that many people have jobs that do not come with vacation time. This oversimplifies the issue and ignores the reality that many workers do not have the luxury of being able to take vacation time due to the demands of their jobs.