Question

Choose the correct form of the adjective with the help of the hint in the bracket:

The meeting was held in a very distant location. So, _______ staff members attended the meeting. (Not enough people)

• A. a few
• B. few
• C. any
• D. the few

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

few

There is a very subtle between difference 'a few', 'few' and 'the few'.
'Few' has a negative meaning, it means 'hardly any or not enough'. 'A few' has a more positive meaning, it means 'some', though less. 'The few' refers to a specific (small) group of people. (A few focuses on the action that follows, 'few' focuses on the number and 'the few' focuses on the people)
Consider the sentences:
There were few members present. (there were hardly any members)
There were a few members present. (there were some members)
They lost the few members that were present. (the members that were there)
The bracket below the given sentence suggests a word that means 'not enough', hence 'few' is the correct option here and B is right. Hence A and D are wrong.
Option C is incorrect because 'any' means 'it's not important how many' whereas the correct word must mean 'not enough'.