Mutiple Choice Option [Very little trouble/much little trouble]

[sb70012]

He had …….. little trouble with that test and left the exam soon.

a)very (Answer Key)
b)so
c)such
d)much

Hi,

Can option "d" (much) be correct too? If not then why?

Source: School Exam
Thank you

 

[Rover_KE]

'Much' does not collocate with 'little trouble'.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Very" is the only word that fits the context and the end of the sentence. With a small alteration, a case can be made for b) but not for c) or d). We simply do not say "such little" in this context or "much little" anything. I'm not sure who wrote the test question but "... left the exam soon" is very unnatural. I would suggest "... left the exam [room] quickly" or "... left the exam shortly after the start". For the purposes of the exercise I have left "soon" alone.

He had very little trouble with that test and left the exam soon.
He had so little trouble with that test that he left the exam soon.