Try out vs. work out

[Irina]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #102 "Phrasal verbs", question 10

The government wants to ......... a new scheme to encourage people to start their own businesses.

(a) work out
(b) try out
(c) find out
(d) run out

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #102 "Phrasal verbs", answer 10

The government wants to try out a new scheme to encourage people to start their own businesses.

Correct answer: (b) try out

Your answer was: incorrect
The government wants to work out a new scheme to encourage people to start their own businesses.
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It seems to me that though "try out" and "work out" have different meaning both of them can be used in this sentence. Am I right?

Irina

[MarkR]

Hi Irina,

Yes you are correct. Both of these phrasal verbs could fit into this sentence.

Try out would indicate a period of testing or experimentation and work out would indicate that the government is trying to come up with a new scheme to help the people who are starting out in business.

Hope this helps.

Mark

[Haihao]

Hi,

I chose a) too but now I feel 'try out a new scheme' would sound a slightly better and naturaler than 'work out a new scheme', can I feel this way?

haihao

[lost_soul]

I guess, try out a new scheme and work out a new scheme have different meanings.
the former means to introduce the scheme into practice and find out how it will work in practice and
the latter means to come up with the idea of the scheme and develop it so it can be applied in practice

Am I spot on?
_________________
Alex

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