The subject

Grammar Geek wrote:

Perhaps we pair them in our brains, but not often enough in our writing that they would qualify for the singular verb, the way we do "fish and chips" or "love and marriage" or the other examples you gave earlier.

Grammar Geek wrote:

Like "Running and swimming is my favorite form of exercise"? No. That would be "...are my favorite forms of exercise."

(I feel absurdly as if I had just wandered on-stage with an "another view" sticker on my forehead.)

I would take it as follows:

1. Worrying about measuring time precisely, and being paid for units of time, is what distinguishes the West from many other civilizations.

— here, I read "worrying" as applicable only to "measuring time precisely".

2. Worrying about measuring time precisely and being paid for units of time is what distinguishes the West from many other civilizations.

— here, I can read "worrying" either as in #1, or as applicable also to "being paid for units of time". However, the latter doesn't seem as likely to me, since "worrying about being paid" (= pragmatic perturbation) seems to belong in a slightly less elevated context than "worrying about precise measuring" (= science).

I find both a plural and a singular verb possible; the singular verb expresses a link between the two distinguishing things.

(I'll shuffle off stage right now, and let someone else have a go.)

MrP

<yanked back by loose flap of bear costume>

Well, at the risk of seeming wishy-washy, I see both as possible:

1. Running and swimming is my favorite form of exercise.

— the speaker presents "running and swimming" as a composite activity.

2. Running and swimming are my favorite forms of exercise.

— the speaker presents "running" and "swimming" as separate activities.

<Exit, pursued by self.>

MrP