What Is the Difference Between Few, A Few, Little, A Little
In English, little, a little, few, and a few all describe small amounts, but they work in different ways. Little and a little are used with uncountable nouns such as time, money, and water, while few and a few are used with countable nouns such as friends, books, and chairs. The presence or absence of the word a changes the meaning. Without a, the meaning is usually negative, suggesting there is not enough of something. With a, the meaning becomes more positive, suggesting there is enough for the situation, even though the amount is still small. These differences might seem minor, but they can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
They appear frequently in English exams such as OET, TOEFL, and IELTS. Below, Iβve included a mix of simple examples as well as more advanced ones from these tests to show how little, a little, few, and a few are used in context. You can also try a free quiz at the end to check your understanding.
Table of Contents
Difference Between Little & A Little
Little and a little are used with uncountable nouns, like time, money, or energy, but they convey very different meanings. Little suggests that the amount is not enough and often carries a negative tone. For example:
I have little time. I should go.
(This implies you are short on time and cannot continue what youβre doing.)
On the other hand, a little suggests that, although the amount is small, it is enough for the purpose. For example:
I have a little time. We can chat a bit more. / We can have another cup of coffee.
(This shows that you do have some time, enough to enjoy a short activity.)
Using or omitting the article ‘a’ can completely change the meaning, so itβs important to choose carefully.
A common mistake students make is thinking that few and a few (or little and a little) refer to specific numbers or amounts. For example, some learners assume that I have few friends means exactly 2 friends, and I have a few friends means exactly 6 friends. This is not true.
Examples
There is little hope of finishing on time. The project is far behind schedule.
There is a little hope of finishing on time. With some effort, we might catch up.
He has little experience with public speaking. He avoids giving presentations whenever possible.
He has a little experience with public speaking. He can manage short presentations confidently.
She has little confidence in her drawing skills. She rarely shares her work with others.
There is little hope that the weather will improve today. The storm is too strong.
She showed little interest in the lecture. She kept looking at her phone the whole time.
He has a little experience with coding. He can write simple programs on his own.
There is a little sugar in the cupboard. Itβs enough for the recipe.
Difference Between Few & A Few
Few and a few are used with countable nouns, like friends, books, or chairs, and the difference is similar to little versus a little. Few emphasizes that the number is not enough and usually carries a negative feeling. For example:
I have few friends. I feel lonely.
(This makes it clear that the small number of friends is a problem.)
A few, in contrast, suggests that the number is small but sufficient for your needs. For example:
I have a few friends. I don’t need more. I enjoy a quiet life.
(This shows that you have enough friends and are satisfied.)
A common mistake students make is thinking that few and a few (or little and a little) refer to specific numbers or amounts. For example, some learners assume that I have few friends means exactly 2 friends, and I have a few friends means exactly 6 friends. This is not true.
Note: The difference is not about the exact number, but about how the speaker feels about it. Few emphasizes that the number is smaller than desired or insufficient, while a few emphasizes that the number is enough for the situation. You could have 3 friends and say I have few friends if you feel lonely, or 3 friends and say I have a few friends if you feel content. Both of these examples can be referring to the exact same number of friends. The meaning comes from context and attitude, not a fixed quantity.
Examples
There are few options left for solving the problem. Most ideas have already been tried.
He has few friends in the new city. He often spends weekends alone.
Few students understood the difficult question. Most gave up quickly.
She has a few friends she can trust completely. They support her when she needs help.
There are a few good restaurants near the office. We can try one for lunch today.
He has a few opportunities to speak in meetings. He uses them to share his ideas.
He had a few chances to speak in meetings, but he didnβt make the most of them.
Pronunciation Differences
When using little or few to show that there is not enough, the word itself is usually emphasized in speech. This helps convey the negative meaning. For example:
She has FEW friends. She feels lonely.
I have LITTLE time. The meeting will start soon.
In contrast, when using a little or a few to show that there is enough, the emphasis typically falls on the verb or another part of the sentence. This conveys that the amount is sufficient. For example:
She HAS a few friends. She doesnβt want more.
I HAVE a little time. We can still discuss the plan.
Focusing on which word is stressed can help listeners immediately understand whether the speaker means βnot enoughβ or βenough.β
Examples from the TOEFL Test
Question 1
The following example is adapted from ETS Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT, Seventh Edition, Practice Test 2, Listening section.
Listening Transcript:Β When the first spacecraft flew by Mars in 1965, it sent back images that changed how scientists saw the planet. Those pictures showed a surface covered in craters with very little else, a thin atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide, and extremely cold temperatures. Based on this, the early conclusion was that Mars was a dry, lifeless world. Later missions in the 1970s provided more detailed data, revealing large volcanoes, deep canyons, and ancient riverbeds. These findings led scientists to conclude that there must have been water on Mars at some point billions of years ago.
Question: According to the professor, what was concluded about Mars after the first spacecraft flew by it in 1965?
A. It had few geological features of interest.
B. It was similar to Earth but colder.
C. It had at one time supported life.
D. It had water under its surface.
Correct Answer: A. It had few geological features of interest.
Explanation: After the 1965 flyby, Mars was observed to have a surface covered mostly with craters, a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere, and extremely cold temperatures. Scientists concluded that the planet was a dry, lifeless world, meaning it had few geological features of interest. The word few emphasizes a negative meaning, indicating that almost no features were noteworthy. If the phrase had been a few, it would suggest that some features existed, which would not accurately reflect the conclusion drawn in 1965.
Question 2
The following example is also adapted from ETS Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT, Seventh Edition, Practice Test 2, Listening section.
Listening Transcript: Back in 1883, Emma Lazarus wrote that famous poemβyou know, the one that goes: βGive me your tired, your poor . . .β and so on. That poem describes the Statue of Liberty as a beacon of welcome for the entire world. Well, in the early 1900s, it was put on a plaque on the pedestal that the Statue of Liberty stands on.
Question: What does the professor imply about the poem by Emma Lazarus?
A. It is one of his favorite poems.
B. Few people have read the entire poem.
C. He does not need to recite the full text of the poem.
D. Lazarus was not able to complete the poem.
Correct Answer: C. She does not need to recite the full text of the poem.
Explanation: The professor refers to the poem by Emma Lazarus and briefly summarizes its main idea, without reading it aloud. This implies that the students already know or are familiar with the poem, so a full recitation is unnecessary. Therefore, C is the correct answer.
About Option B and the word “few”: Option B states, βFew people have read the entire poem.β The word few (without βaβ) gives a negative meaning, suggesting that almost no one has read or knows the poem. This directly contradicts what the professor implies, because he assumes that the students are already familiar with the poem and its message. Using few here would indicate that the poem is obscure or rarely known, which is not the case. The professorβs summary relies on the poem being widely recognized, so Option B misrepresents the situation entirely.
Question 3
The following example is adapted from ETS Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT, Sixth Edition, Practice Test 3, Reading section. This passage appears in the Sixth Edition but has been removed from the Seventh Edition.
Excerpt:Β Farmers respond differently to the declining water levels in the Ogallala aquifer. Some try to conserve water by irrigating less often or planting crops that need less water. Others focus on maximizing short-term profits by growing high-value, water-intensive crops like cotton. Conservation-minded farmers face challenges because their neighbors who continue using large amounts of water earn more, reducing the incentive to conserve and contributing to the overall depletion of the regionβs water supply.
Question: Paragraph 5 mentions which of the following as a source of difficulty for some farmers who try to conserve water?
A. Crops that do not need much water are difficult to grow in the High Plains.
B. Farmers who grow crops that need a lot of water make higher profits.
C. Irrigating less frequently often leads to crop failure.
D. Few farmers are convinced that the aquifer will eventually run dry.
Correct Answer: B. Farmers who grow crops that need a lot of water make higher profits.
Explanation: Farmers who try to conserve water are discouraged because their neighbors who use more water earn higher profits. This economic pressure makes it harder to maintain conservation practices.
About Option D and the word “few”: Option D states, βFew farmers are convinced that the aquifer will eventually run dry.β The word few implies almost no farmers believe the aquifer will run out, which is not the issue described. The difficulty comes from economic incentives, not from farmersβ beliefs.
Question 4
The following example is adapted from ETS Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT, Seventh Edition, Practice Test 3, Reading section.
Excerpt: In order for the structure to achieve the size and strength necessary to meet its purpose, architecture employs methods of support that, because they are based on physical laws, have changed little since people first discovered them, even while building materials have changed dramatically.
Question: Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence?
A. Unchanging physical laws have limited the size and strength of buildings that can be made with materials discovered long ago.
B. Building materials have changed in order to increase architectural size and strength, but physical laws of structure have not changed.
C. When people first started to build, the structural methods used to provide strength and size were inadequate because they were not based on physical laws.
D. Unlike building materials, the methods of support used in architecture have not changed over time because they are based on physical laws.
Correct Answer: D. Unlike building materials, the methods of support used in architecture have not changed over time because they are based on physical laws.
Explanation: The passage emphasizes that structural support methods in architecture have remained largely unchanged because they are based on physical laws, even though building materials have evolved. Option D captures this idea accurately. The phrase “changed little” means that the changes that have occurred are very minor and negligible. I usually tell my students that they can read the sentence as “haven’t really changed” and it conveys the same overall meaning. The other options are incorrect because they either misrepresent the role of physical laws, suggest that early methods were inadequate, or focus on limitations that are not mentioned in the passage.
Question 5
The following example is taken from ETS Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT, Seventh Edition, Reading Section (Unit 2), Practice Set 6.
Excerpt: However, those mammals that did succeed as colonists were able, in the isolation of each continent, to diverge into a number of unique, native groups that show little similarity to those in other continents, for example New World monkeys in South America, elephants and aardvarks in Africa, and marsupials like the kangaroo in Australia.
Question: The author mentions βNew World monkeys in South Americaβ in order to
A. give an example of the range of mammals that are now found only in isolated regions within continents
B. support the point that mammals generally dispersed later than flowering plants did
C. explain how groups of mammals were able to succeed as colonists on different continents as a result of diversification
D. give an example of a group of mammals that developed in isolation and are now very different from their closest relatives on other continents
Correct Answer: D. give an example of a group of mammals that developed in isolation and are now very different from their closest relatives on other continents
Explanation: The passage emphasizes that mammals that successfully colonized isolated continents evolved into unique native groups showing little similarity to mammals on other continents. This is an important distinction: βlittle similarityβ means almost no similarity, whereas βa little similarityβ would suggest some noticeable similarity exists. The author mentions βNew World monkeys in South Americaβ as an example of a group that developed in isolation and diverged greatly from its closest relatives elsewhere. Option D captures this meaning accurately. The other options are incorrect because they either focus on the range of mammals in general, suggest dispersal timing, or misrepresent the reason for the example.
Examples from the IELTS Test
Question 1
This question is adapted from Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 1, Reading module, Passage 1.
Passage: The evolution of racket customization and modification has taken the game to heights that few people could have predicted back when players relied on natural strings and heavy wooden frames. Innovations in materials, design, and technology have dramatically increased performance, speed, and control. While some players continue to value traditional rackets, most now take advantage of modern advances, making it hard to imagine how the game would be played without them. It will be interesting to see how future developments further transform the sport.
Question: According to the passage, what does the author say about racket technology?
A. Many players could have anticipated the current standards of the game.
B. Only a very small number of people could have predicted the advances in racket design.
C. Most players still prefer natural strings and wooden frames.
D. Racket customization has had little impact on the game.
Correct Answer: B. Only a very small number of people could have predicted the advances in racket design.
Explanation: The passage uses few to indicate that very few people could have anticipated how far racket technology would advance. This emphasizes that the number is extremely small, unlike a few, which would suggest some or enough.
Questions 2 & 3
This passage is adapted from Cambridge IELTS 20, Test 3, Reading module, Passage 1.
Passage: Despite the potential of frozen food, significant obstacles remained in the 1930s. Few grocery stores could afford to buy freezers because the market for frozen food was still in its infancy. To address this, Birdseye offered stores inexpensive freezer cases for lease and also rented insulated railroad cars to distribute his products across the country. At the same time, few consumers owned freezers that were large or efficient enough to fully benefit from these products. This combination of limited store equipment and household appliances slowed the initial adoption of frozen food, even as Birdseye’s innovations made nationwide distribution possible.
Question 1: According to the passage, what problem did grocery stores face in the 1930s?
A. They had too many freezers and not enough products.
B. Few stores could afford to buy freezers because the frozen food market was new.
C. Consumers were not interested in frozen foods.
D. Freezers were illegal in many areas.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The passage clearly states that few grocery stores could afford freezers because the frozen food market was still new. The word few is important here. It emphasizes a very small number of stores, creating a negative sense of limitation. This is different from a few, which would suggest some stores had freezers and could manage well.
Question 2: According to the passage, why were consumers limited in their use of Birdseye’s products?
A. Few consumers liked frozen foods.
B. Consumers could not afford Birdseyeβs products.
C. Consumers preferred fresh foods exclusively.
D. Few consumers had freezers that were large or efficient enough.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The passage mentions that few consumers had freezers that were large or efficient enough to make full use of the products. Again, the word few conveys a very small number, indicating a limitation, unlike a few, which would suggest there was at least some sufficient number of consumers able to use the products. Understanding the difference between few and a few is key to answering this question correctly.
Questions 4
This is adapted from Cambridge IELTS 20, Test 1, Listening Section 2.
Listening Transcript: So now we’re in the workshop. Have a look around. There’s a lot going on. To make pottery that will last, you need a potter’s wheel. A kiln, which is basically a very hot oven where you fire the pottery, and some tools. So first the kiln. If you look over in the far corner, you’ll see one of ours. Since their invention kilns have changed very little. Though in the past 20 years, a lot of progress has been made in temperature control. Basically, a kiln removes the water from clay. At temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius. This allows anything you’ve made to set permanently in shape. It’s a pretty ugly, heavy object that’s hard to keep in a house or flat, so most people don’t have one.
Question: What does the speaker suggest about kiln development over time?
A. Modern kilns are completely different from early designs.
B. Temperature control has been the main area of innovation.
C. There has been minimal change in basic kiln design.
D. Recent improvements have made kilns much smaller.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The speaker states that “since their invention kilns have changed very little.” The word little is crucial here because it indicates that the degree of change has been insufficient and inadequate – essentially meaning that despite centuries of development, kilns remain fundamentally unchanged in their basic design and operation.
The speaker acknowledges some progress in temperature control over the past two decades, but emphasizes that this represents only minor improvements rather than significant transformation of the technology itself.
The other options are incorrect for various reasons. Option A is wrong because the speaker explicitly states kilns have changed very little, not that they’re completely different. Option B is incorrect because while temperature control is mentioned as an area of progress, the speaker emphasizes that overall change has been minimal, not that this has been the main focus. Option D is wrong because the passage doesn’t mention kilns becoming smaller – in fact, it describes them as “ugly, heavy objects” that are hard to keep in homes.
Questions 5
This passage is adapted from Cambridge IELTS 18, Test 3, Reading module, Passage 2.
Passage: But the glory days of steam cars were few.A new technology called the Internal Combustion Engine soon appeared, which offered the ability to drive down the road just moments after starting up.At first, these noisy gasoline cars were unpopular because they were more complicated to operate and they had difficult hand-crank starters, which were known to break arms when the engines backfired.But in 1912 General Motors introduced the electric starter, and over the following few years steam power was gradually phased out.
Question: What point does the writer make about the steam car in Paragraph B?
A. Its success was short-lived.
B. Not enough cars were made.
C. Car companies found them hard to sell.
D. People found them hard to drive.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The passage states: βBut the glory days of steam cars were few. A new technology called the Internal Combustion Engine soon appearedβ¦β The key phrase βthe glory daysβ¦were fewβ indicates that steam cars had only a short-lived period of success before they were replaced by internal combustion vehicles.
The other options are incorrect for specific reasons. Option B is wrong because the text doesnβt mention anything about how many cars were manufactured. Option C is incorrect because there is no evidence that car companies struggled to sell steam cars. Option D is wrong because the difficulty in operation is associated with early gasoline cars that required hand-cranking, not with steam cars.
Questions 6
This is adapted from Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 1, Listening Section 3.
Listening Transcript:
Marie: Hmm. Did the article mention ghost kitchens used to produce takeaway food?
Colin: No, what are they?
Marie: Well, they might have the name of a restaurant, but actually they’re a cooking facility just for delivery meals. The public don’t ever go there. But people aren’t aware of that, it’s all kept very quiet.
Colin: So, people don’t realize the food’s not actually from the restaurant?
Marie: Right.
Question: What point is made about ‘ghost kitchens’ in the conversation?
A. Most people know little about this.
B. They are becoming less common in cities.
C. They are relatively well-known.
D. They are mainly used for in-person dining.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Marie explains that ghost kitchens operate only for delivery meals and adds, βBut people aren’t aware of that, it’s all kept very quiet.β This directly supports the idea that most people know little about them.
The other options are incorrect for specific reasons. Option B is wrong because the conversation does not mention ghost kitchens becoming less common. Option C is incorrect since it directly contradicts the facts mentioned in the dialogue. Option D is wrong because Marie makes clear that the public never visits these facilities, meaning they are not for in-person dining.
Examples from the OET Test
Question 1
This question is from OET Official Practice Test 5 (Medicine), Reading Part C.
Passage: With increasing superspecialisation, practitioners in secondary-care disciplines tend to be world experts in narrow clinical areas. They may be enticed by the glamour of academia, but they often interact with relatively few patients during their careers. Generalists, meanwhile, have a far greater volume of clinical interactions and form relationships with countless patients. This has a different type of glamour, related to the unique opportunity to share everyday patient experiences. Indeed, the best general practitioners are invariably those who have mastered their unit of clinical interaction, the consultation. The very human skills of dealing with uncertainty, discussing patientsβ rational and irrational concerns, and developing trust, are vital to maintaining high-quality care in general practice.
Question: What point does the writer make about superspecialisation?
A. Clinicians have little opportunity to develop certain valuable skills.
B. Generalist practitioners are having to deal with an increasing workload.
C. Specialists may be unaware of work carried out in other branches of medicine.
D. Some specialties attract clinicians with less interest in direct contact with patients.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The key word in the passage is few. The writer says superspecialists “interact with relatively few patients,” which means the number is not sufficient or enough to develop the broader human skills mentioned later in the passage. Because they lack frequent interactions, they have limited opportunities to practice important skills like building trust, handling uncertainty, and discussing patient concerns. Notice how this links directly with option A, which also uses the word little to suggest insufficiency. Just as few patients means not enough contact, little opportunity means not enough chance to develop those skills. Both words communicate limitation, and that is the central reason why A is correct. The other options are not supported: the passage does not mention generalistsβ workload (B), specialistsβ awareness of other fields (C), or a lack of interest in patient contact (D).
Question 2
This question is from OET Official Practice Test 5 (Medicine), Reading Part C.
Passage: Perhaps the best way to attract doctors to this discipline is therefore to encourage the selection of future clinicians who are likely to have these traits in the first place. Although Boston University Medical Schoolβs admissions system may not be perfect, its innovation shows that, with more time and thought, medical school recruitment can be improved and made more holistic. It seems obvious that medical school admissions systems should be guided by workforce requirements. Naturally, intellectual achievements will always be important, and the pace of modern evidence-based medicine certainly demands bright and inquisitive minds. However, the problems of multimorbidity and an ageing population are very real, and there can be little doubt that future health systems will require well-rounded generalists who have the skills to deal with presentations across the biopsychosocial spectrum.
Question: In the sixth paragraph, the writer says that medical schools should
A. ensure that academic standards remain a priority.
B. encourage graduates to become general practitioners.
C. teach students how to build relationships with patients.
D. favour applicants who possess good interpersonal skills.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The passage highlights that while academic standards are important, the greater need lies in selecting applicants who already show the qualities required of strong generalists. The phrase little doubt is significant: it means the writer is almost completely
Question 3
This question is from OET Official Practice Test 4 (Medicine), Reading Part C.
Passage: As chairman of the department of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr Frank Longo knows how destructive Alzheimer’s can be. The disease was discovered in 1906, but despite more than a century of research, including the testing of over 200 new drugs in the past two decades, there are still few real treatments. As Longo says, ‘We’ve cured Alzheimer’s in mice many times, why can’t we move that success to people?’. He’s referring to numerous promising compounds that have eliminated the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s in animals. However, if ongoing trials continue to go the way he hopes, his new drug, called LM11A-31, could be a critical part of finally making that happen.
Question: In the first paragraph, it’s suggested that Dr. Longo feels
A. annoyed that certain Alzheimer’s treatments are not approved for human use.
B. concerned that the Alzheimer’s drug LM11A-31 may prove ineffective.
C. surprised that so little is still known about what causes Alzheimer’s.
D. frustrated by the lack of progress towards treating Alzheimer’s.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The passage states “there are still few real treatments” for Alzheimer’s disease. The word few is the key to understanding the correct answer because it emphasizes insufficiency and inadequacy. It means the number of treatments is not sufficient and not enough. This directly supports option D, which captures Dr. Longo’s frustration with the lack of progress in treating the disease.
The phrase “few real treatments” indicates that while some treatments may exist, they are insufficient to address the problem effectively. This is a classic use of few to show not just a small quantity, but an inadequate amount relative to what is needed.
The other options are incorrect for various reasons. Option A is wrong because the passage doesn’t mention anything about treatments not being approved for human use – it simply states there are few real treatments available. Option B is incorrect because Dr. Longo actually seems hopeful about his new drug LM11A-31, stating it “could be a critical part of finally making that happen.” Option C is wrong because the passage doesn’t discuss what causes Alzheimer’s or Dr. Longo’s knowledge about causes – it focuses entirely on the lack of effective treatments despite extensive research.
Question 4
This question is from OET Official Practice Test 4 (Medicine), Reading Part C.
Passage: For decades, scientists have focused on trying to get rid of the hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s: the sticky protein plaques of amyloid that they have dealt with so well in mice. If they could get rid of that in humans too, the thinking went, they could eliminate the disease, or at least lessen its severity. LM11A-31, however, doesn’t directly attack amyloid. ‘We’re skeptical about what is actually causing Alzheimer’s,’ Longo says, referring to those protein plaques. ‘Most people are working at the edges of the problem, but we’re going right after the core of it.’ LM11A-31 isn’t designed to eliminate every clump of amyloid, but rather to keep brain cells strong, safeguarded against neurological onslaughts, whether they’re the effects of amyloid or other factors involved in Alzheimer’s. It’s a less orthodox approach, but if it works, it could be a turning point.
Question: In the second paragraph, what point does the writer make about the drug LM11A-31?
A. It is effective even in the most severe cases.
B. It is a product of previous research into amyloids.
C. It works regardless of the actual cause of the disease.
D. It provides little protection against other neurological conditions.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The passage clearly states that LM11A-31 is designed “to keep brain cells strong, safeguarded against neurological onslaughts, whether they’re the effects of amyloid or other factors involved in Alzheimer’s.” This directly supports option C – the drug works regardless of the actual cause of the disease. Dr. Longo even mentions being “sceptical about what is actually causing Alzheimer’s,” emphasizing that their approach doesn’t depend on identifying the specific cause.
The other options are incorrect for various reasons. Option A is wrong because the passage doesn’t discuss the drug’s effectiveness in severe cases – there’s no mention of severity levels or case classifications. Option B is incorrect because the passage actually states that LM11A-31 “doesn’t directly attack amyloid,” distinguishing it from previous amyloid-focused research rather than being a product of it. Option D is wrong because the passage doesn’t mention the drug providing little protection against other neurological conditions – this information simply isn’t provided in the text, and the word “little” here would emphasize insufficiency, but that’s not discussed in this passage.
Question 5
This question is adapted from OET Official Practice Test 3 (Medicine), Reading Part C.
Passage: An allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to a substance that would normally be harmless. The term ‘allergy’ is often used more loosely by the general public to describe any adverse reaction to a substance, even if the immune system is not directly involved, which experts call ‘intolerance.’ Symptoms of allergies can include sneezing, itchy eyes, asthma, rashes, and diarrhea, while intolerances may cause headaches, bloating, and general lethargy. Over time, some allergy sufferers lose weight because there are few foods they can eat. Eating also has important social implications, as meals are a major social activity.
Question: What does the phrase “few foods they can eat” suggest about allergy sufferers?
A. They have a very limited number of foods they can safely consume.
B. They have a wide variety of foods available to them.
C. Most foods cause no problems for them.
D. They are not affected by dietary restrictions.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The passage uses few to indicate that the number of foods allergy sufferers can safely eat is very small. This creates a negative sense of limitation, emphasizing the challenges they face in maintaining proper nutrition and enjoying meals. Unlike a few, which would suggest there are at least some foods available to them, few stresses the scarcity.
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