中断 and 休憩: interrupting work and taking a rest break
Compare stopping work because of a document error with resting between tasks, without treating every interruption as rest.
The interruption of progress
中断, read ちゅうだん, identifies an interruption. 資料に誤りがあり、作業を中断しました。 says that work was interrupted because the material contained an error.
The reason given is an error in the material. The sentence does not say whether anyone sat down to rest or checked other material instead.
An interval used to rest
休憩, read きゅうけい, means taking a break to rest. 作業の合間に休憩を取りました。 says that a rest break was taken between tasks.
十分間休憩してから、説明を再開します。 schedules resuming the explanation after a ten-minute break. Read the rest interval and the following explanation in order.
Two descriptions of one situation
休憩のため、説明を中断しました。 says that the explanation was interrupted for a break. 中断 identifies interrupted progress; 休憩 identifies the purpose of resting.
作業を中断して、別の資料を調べました。 says that work was interrupted and other material was examined. An interruption can be followed by another activity.
Does 作業を中断して、別の資料を調べました。 also report taking a rest?
Show the answer and why
No. It says that work was interrupted and other material was examined. Rest requires separate information.