他对资金缺失的解释听起来像是一个为了逃避指责而编造的托词。

His explanation for the missing funds sounded like a convenient ___story to avoid blame.

嫌疑人不断改变自己的说辞，这让警方非常怀疑。

The suspect kept changing his ___story, which made the police very suspicious.

她声称堵车只是个借口，是为了掩盖她睡过头的事实。

Her claim of being stuck in traffic was just a ___story to cover up the fact she overslept.