📝 Daily Short Practice
🎯 Vocabulary Goal
You will practise using advanced phrasal verbs to explain reasons, exclude possibilities, and indicate evidence in different contexts.
📚 Words & Phrases
| Word or phrase | Simple meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
account for |
to explain the reason or cause of something | The decline in sales accounts for the recent loss in revenue. |
|
rule out |
to eliminate or exclude something as a possibility | The doctors ruled out infection as the source of the symptoms. |
|
point to |
to indicate or suggest something as a cause or explanation | The evidence points to an error in the financial report. |
🔍 See It in Context
Discussing Causes and Exclusions in a Team Meeting
During the meeting, the manager asked the team to account for the drop in productivity last quarter. The analysts pointed to the recent software update as a likely cause. However, they were able to rule out any issues with staff attendance because records showed no significant changes. This discussion helped the team focus on technical problems rather than management decisions. Ultimately, the data pointed to a combination of factors affecting performance.
💡 Notice the Pattern
Using 'account for', 'rule out' and 'point to' naturally
'Account for' is used to explain causes or reasons, often with a noun or event as its object. 'Rule out' requires a direct object of what is excluded. 'Point to' suggests evidence or indication and is followed by what is suggested.
- The report accounts for all the recent changes in policy.
- The tests ruled out hardware failure as the problem.
💬 Useful Examples
- Can you account for the discrepancy in the financial figures?
- The investigation ruled out vandalism as the cause of the damage.
- Recent studies point to climate change affecting migration patterns.
- We need to account for all expenses before finalizing the budget.
✏️ Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1.
The experts ____ the possibility of a software glitch causing the error (ruled out / account for / point to).
2.
Several factors ____ the sudden increase in customer complaints (rule out / account for / point to).
3.
The audit report clearly ____ irregularities in the financial statements (account for / rule out / points to).
4.
We cannot ____ human error when investigating the incident (rule out / point to / account for).
5.
Their explanation doesn't ____ the recent delays in delivery (point to / account for / rule out).
🔗 Exercise 2 – Matching
1.
account for
2.
We ruled out technical faults in the first phase.
3.
point to
4.
The report accounts for the missing inventory.
5.
They ruled out weather conditions affecting the flight.
✅ Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1.
Which phrasal verb would you use to exclude a hypothesis during an investigation?
2.
If evidence suggests a specific cause, which phrasal verb fits best?
3.
How do you express explaining a reason or cause clearly?
4.
Choose the phrasal verb that matches this sentence: 'The investigation _____ no problems with the machinery.'
5.
Which sentence correctly uses 'point to'?
📝 Use It Yourself
Write 2–3 sentences explaining a problem at work or school, using 'account for', 'rule out', and 'point to' in context.
Example:
The recent errors in the report account for the delayed project. We ruled out software issues as the cause. The evidence points to misunderstandings in the instructions.
🎙️ Speaking Practice
Practice these sentences aloud.
Say:
Can you account for the decrease in customer satisfaction?
Say:
The investigation ruled out any problems with the equipment.
Say:
All signs point to the marketing strategy being ineffective.
Ask:
What factors might account for the recent change in policy?
🔎 Answer Key
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1. ruled out
2. account for
3. points to
4. rule out
5. account for
Exercise 2 – Matching
1. d – to explain the reason behind something
2. e – excluded technical faults as a cause
3. a – indicate evidence for something
4. b – provides an explanation for the missing inventory
5. c – eliminated weather as a factor
Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1. rule out
2. point to
3. account for
4. ruled out
5. The data point to mistakes in the calculations.