check out/look into

[hooshdar3]

A committe was set up to --------the causes of the accident.
1)look out 2)get over 3)check out 4)look into

Was it a good test?

check out
vb (adverb)
1. (intr) to pay the bill and depart, esp from a hotel
2. (intr) to depart from a place; record one's departure from work
3. to investigate or prove to be in order after investigation the police checked out all the statements their credentials checked out
4. (tr) Informal to have a look at; inspect check out the wally in the pink shirt
n checkout
1.
a. the latest time for vacating a room in a hotel, etc.
b. (as modifier) checkout time
2. a counter, esp in a supermarket, where customers pay
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

 

[BobSmith]

A committe was set up to --------the causes of the accident.
1)look out 2)get over 3)check out 4)look into

Was it a good test?

The correct answer is 4, because it makes the most sense and would be the most common action a committee would take with regards to causes of an accident.

However,

2) to get over the causes of
is possible, if the [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] intent of the committee is to ameliorate the negative effects of what initiated the accident. This is an unlikely usage.

3) to check out the causes of
is possible, if the intent of the committee is it investigate causes already known. This is slightly more likely, but not as common as 4).

(updated typos)

 

[Rover_KE]

As your dictionary said, check out meaning have a look at is informal.

A committee (note spelling) would formally look into the causes of an accident.

It is a fair question as it requires students to recognise this distinction.

Rover

 

[hooshdar3]

As your dictionary said, check out meaning have a look at is informal.

A committee (note spelling) would formally look into the causes of an accident.

It is a fair question as it requires students to recognise this distinction.

Rover

Does it ask us what is formal and what is informal?

 

[5jj]

Does it ask us what is formal and what is informal?

You know it doesn't.

However, the construction of the sentence "A committee was set up to --------the causes of the accident" is, in itself fairly formal. 'look into' is what we would expect there.

 

[hooshdar3]

You know it doesn't.

However, the construction of the sentence "A committee was set up to --------the causes of the accident" is, in itself fairly formal. 'look into' is what we would expect there.

What makes it formal?

 

[5jj]

The passive.

 

[Rover_KE]

Also the register*.

You could use 'check out' if the rest of the sentence had read

'A bunch of guys was told to ______ why the truck flipped over and screwed up the traffic light pole'.

* register - noun 3 a variety of a language determined by degree of formality and choice of vocabulary, pronunciation, and syntax
(WR dictionary).

Rover

 

[5jj]

'A bunch of guys was told to ______ why the truck flipped over and screwed up the traffic light pole'.

Good one.

 

[Tdol]

Does it ask us what is formal and what is informal?

I would say that it does in a sense; it is asking you to choose the most appropriate verb for that sentence, so it tests whether the person is able to distinguish between registers and respond appropriately. The person who thinks that some sort-of relevant slang is the best choice hasn't recognised the register of the sentence. Testing register and the appropriateness of language is a legitimate form of testing at higher levels.

 

[hooshdar3]

Also the register*.

You could use 'check out' if the rest of the sentence had read

'A bunch of guys was told to ______ why the truck flipped over and screwed up the traffic light pole'.

* register - noun 3 a variety of a language determined by degree of formality and choice of vocabulary, pronunciation, and syntax
(WR dictionary).

Rover

Would you please suggest a way for me to remember what is formal and what is informal?

 

[5jj]

Would you please suggest a way for me to remember what is formal and what is informal?

There is no simple answer to this. Context will normally tell you whether a situation is formal or informal - for example, a business report will normally be written in formal language, a friendly email in informal language. Only experience (or a dictionary or grammar book) will tell you whether a particular word, phrase or construction is formal or informal.