Oliver looked ___ he was going to hit the culprit.a) as thoughb) like ifc) liked) as

To determine the correct answer for the sentence "Oliver looked ___ he was going to hit the culprit," we need to analyze the options given and their grammatical correctness.

Analyzing the Options:

1. a) as though - This phrase is used to indicate a situation that appears to be true. It fits grammatically in the sentence.
2. b) like if - This expression is not standard English and does not fit well in the sentence.
3. c) like - This is commonly used in informal contexts, but it lacks the complexity needed for this sentence.
4. d) as - While it is grammatically correct, it does not convey the intended meaning as clearly as "as though."

Conclusion:

The best choice is a) as though, as it logically conveys that Oliver seemed to be about to hit the culprit.

Final Answer:

Oliver looked as though he was going to hit the culprit.