Reading: Reading for Detail (Complex Texts) B2
Understanding Arguments, Viewpoints, and Supporting Details
Listen to the reading passage here.
- Identify the author's main argument (viewpoint).
- Separate the argument from its supporting details (evidence).
- Recognize counter-arguments and how the author responds to them.
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
This text uses some specific words. Knowing them will help you understand the argument.
Reading Passage
Read the text below. Pay attention to the Main Argument, the Counter-Argument, and the Supporting Details (Evidence).
The Productivity Puzzle: The Case for a Four-Day Work Week
For decades, the five-day, 40-hour work week has been the undisputed standard. However, a growing number of companies and economists are challenging this model, arguing that a four-day work week is a more intelligent and sustainable model for the 21st century.
Proponents of the shorter week argue that it significantly boosts productivity and employee well-being. When employees are given three days to rest, they return to work more focused and energized. A recent large-scale trial in the UK, for example, found that 71% of employees reported reduced levels of burnout. Furthermore, companies in the trial saw revenue remain broadly the same, with some even reporting slight increases.
Naturally, skeptics worry that cutting 20% of the work time will lead to a 20% drop in output. They argue it's simply not possible to do the same amount of work in less time. However, this perspective often fails to account for how work actually happens. Proponents respond that much of the five-day week is lost to "filler" activities—unnecessary meetings, social media distractions, and low-energy work. By compressing work into four focused days, companies report that employees waste less time and prioritize high-value tasks.
In conclusion, while a four-day week is not a magic solution for every industry, it represents a profound and logical shift. It moves the focus from "hours worked" to "output achieved," benefiting both the company's bottom line and the mental health of its workforce. It is a structural change worth serious consideration.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Comprehension Check: Argument vs. Detail
Based on the text, answer the following questions. Click "Check Answers" when done.
1. What is the main argument (or viewpoint) of this passage?
2. Which of these is a supporting detail (evidence), NOT the main argument?
3. What is the counter-argument that the author mentions?
Tips for Reading Complex Texts
💡 How to Find the Main Argument
When you read, ask yourself: "What is the author trying to convince me of?" The answer to that is the main argument.
- Look at the Title: The title is often a big clue (e.g., "The Case for...").
- Check Intro & Conclusion: The main argument is almost always stated in the first and last paragraphs.
- Find "Evidence" Words: Words like
For example...,A study found...,...found that...signal a supporting detail, *not* the main argument. - Find "Counter-Argument" Words: Words like
Skeptics say...,Some people argue...introduce the *other* side's opinion.
Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)
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Productivity
The rate at which goods are produced or work is completed.
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Proponent
A person who supports a cause or idea.
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Skeptic
A person who doubts that something is true or useful.
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Burnout
Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.
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Overhead Costs
Business costs not directly related to making a product (e.g., rent, electricity).
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Sustainable
Able to be maintained or continued over the long term.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Find the Argument in the Wild
- Find an English-language opinion article (e.g., from the *Phnom Penh Post*, *The Guardian*, or *New York Times*).
- Read the article and identify:
- The Main Argument: What is the one big idea the author wants you to accept?
- Two Supporting Details: What two facts, examples, or statistics do they use to prove their argument?
- Practice summarizing the article for a friend, starting with the main argument.