Hi Mike,
Question #2 on the quiz on page 50:
Attributing the unprecedented drought to changes in the solar cycle, the research team failed to
account for/take account of the influence of any terrestrial culprits, namely our destruction of rainforests and our unbridled consumption of gasoline.
The answer key says that 'account for' is the right one. I wonder how. The meaning of the sentence is that the terrestrial culprits too have caused changes in the solar cycle, a point missed to be noted by the research team. In that case, shouldn't the correct answer be 'take account of'?
'account for' means reason for an event. So by using 'account for' in that slot, the sentence wrongly conveys the meaning that the research team is after the reasons for the influence of the terrestrial culprits. Isn't it? Am I wrongly interpreting this? Please kindly help me see the difference between 'account for' and 'take account of'!
Thanks very much.