Paraphrase : There is something deeply conflicted about the

devotion to work, vocation, career as an ideal in

any society, but especially in one that has

zealously cast off so many of its other

repressions...

We (Americans) have all been so

oversocialized that unnatural devotion to toil

leaves its mark on every area of life. It could even

be argued that the most highly prized pleasures

have themselves become a form of work.

complete with their own uniforms, disciplines.

and special lingo.' -- Christopher Clausen,

professor

the process of rewording a given passage into a more concise manner.

Explanation:

Paraphrasing is the process of rewording a given passage into a more concised manner.

The above passage can be paraphrased into:

Christopher Clausen says that there is a conflicting nature among the common ideals of work, vocation and career especially the one that has gone through a lot hardships among the three.

Americans in an attempt to achieve these ideals have dedicated an abnormal amount of devotion. He says that every dream have become like a task with its own uniforms, disciplines and special lingo.

the present continuous is a verb tense which is mainly used to indicates that an action is in progress at the moment of speaking.  

it is formed using: person + verb to be (am/is/are) +verb + - ing form  

example: i am studying at this moment .

in addition, the present continuous is also used in order to express things that will or will not happen in the near future.

example: i am having dinner with some friends tonight.

the speaker sometimes   uses it   to express that an action is repeated and it causes irritation on the part of the speaker

example: my sister is constantly complaining about everything.

can you provide the possible answers