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

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.

How does the reviewer cite statistics as evidence that supports the author’s ideas?

(1 point)
Responses

The reviewer cites statistics from the author about how many jobs in the United States do not come with vacation time.
The reviewer cites statistics from the author about how many jobs in the United States do not come with vacation time.

The reviewer cites statistics from the author about how many people did not take any vacation days.
The reviewer cites statistics from the author about how many people did not take any vacation days.

The reviewer cites statistics from the author about how much less vacation time Americans get than people in many other countries.
The reviewer cites statistics from the author about how much less vacation time Americans get than people in many other countries.

The reviewer cites statistics from the author about why some people avoid taking vacation days.
The reviewer cites statistics from the author about why some people avoid taking vacation days.
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Answer 1

The correct response is:

The reviewer cites statistics from the author about how many people did not take any vacation days.

This response highlights the specific statistic presented in the passage—that 28 percent of people in 2014 didn’t take any vacation days because they wanted to show their dedication to the job—which supports Williams's ideas about the reluctance to take time off.