[Idiom] "search for" or "look for" and the like

[Pirmie]

Dear teachers at UE,
I'm busy checking written exams at the moment and not happy with the results I found in my text books so far. I'd rather appreciate one of our community to assist me.
1. When should we use "to search for", when "to look for"? Is there a rule?
2. Is it ok to say "the author reports about an event" or is "report on" more appropriate?
3.a) Can a "text tell us" something or is always "the text deals with"?
3b) Can an author "tell about sth."?
4. What I've found on "get" vs. "become" is pretty divers. Can someone give me a rule of thumb or brief guideline?
Thanks for your help!
Pirmie

[Tdol]

1 Searching is generally more thorough than looking.
2 Yes, but a journalist, say, who specialises on a certain area would be more likely to report on.
3 It can, but in academic or other formal contexts it wouldn't work so well.
3b Not normally; they'd have to tell someone about something, but if they have the necessary expertise the phrase would work.

[Pirmie]

Dear Tdol,
thanks bunches for your quick and precise answers. They were pretty helpful. Yours, p.