Choose the most appropriate combination of words to complete the given sentence:
_____________ literary works are as dynamic as 'The Lord of the Rings'. The writer has put in _____________ effort into word-building.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A few / much
Determiners: a few, few, much, many:
- A few (= some, a small number) and few (= hardly any) go with plural countable nouns, such as "literary works".
- Much goes with uncountable nouns. "Effort" is uncountable here, so "much effort".
- Complete sentence: A few literary works are as dynamic as 'The Lord of the Rings'. The writer has put in much effort into word-building.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Few / more — Incorrect. "Few" can stand before "literary works", but "more effort" is a comparative and needs something to be compared with ("more effort than ..."). The sentence names none.
Option 3: The few / most — Incorrect.
- "The few" means a small group already known ("the few friends I have"). No such group has been mentioned.
- "Most effort" is a superlative, and nothing is being compared.
Option 4: A few / many — Incorrect. "A few" is right, but "many" goes only with plural countable nouns. "Many effort" is wrong because "effort" is uncountable here.