Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
I have _____ close friends. Two or three.
(a)a lot of
(b)a little
(c)a few
(d)much

Hint: The option to be chosen refers to a quantifier used with plural countable nouns. It means small in number but there are certainly some numbers. It is an abstract number to indicate the minority. Choose the option accordingly. Complete answer: A determiner is a word or a group of words that specifies, identifies, or quantifies the noun or a noun phrase that follows it. It is also known as a prenominal modifier. Now, let us analyze the given options: Option(a) ‘a lot of’ is not the correct answer. 'A lot’ is generally used while referring to a large number. Whereas the question suggests the subject is talking about two or three which is, of course, a small number. Therefore, Option A is completely unsuitable according to the sentence.
Option(b) ‘a little’ is the incorrect answer. ‘A little’ is used with singular uncountable nouns. As the hint indicates, the option to be chosen is used with plural countable nouns, whereas Option B is contradictory to the same. Thus, Option B is absolutely wrong.
Option(c) ‘a few’ is the correct answer. ‘Few’ signifies a very small quantity whereas ‘A few’ means some but not a lot. Plus, this option matches the given hint completely. Therefore, Option c. is the correct answer.
Option(d) ‘much’ is an incorrect answer. ‘Much’ is used when the noun is uncountable. Whereas in the sentence, we have a number mentioned, so much cannot be used. Also, using ‘much’ won’t make any sense as per the requirement of the sentence. Option D neither fits in the sentence nor matches the hint. Hence Option D is wrong.

Note: “A few” refers to “some”. Without the article “a,” few emphasize a small number of things. Adding the article removes the emphasis—a few means some. The same rule applies to little, which is used with singular uncountable nouns.