Help the brave food critic review a terrible restaurant by choosing the correct word for each blank.

Unfortunately, the chef has little understanding of how spices work. The curry was incredibly bland! I managed to eat a few bites before giving up. To be fair, the waiter showed a little sympathy and offered us a free dessert.

Unfortunately, the chef has little understanding of how spices work.

"Understanding" is uncountable. We use "little" (without 'a') to mean "almost no," which fits the negative context of a bland curry.

I managed to eat a few bites before giving up.

"Bites" is plural and countable. We use "a few" to mean "some."

To be fair, the waiter showed a little sympathy and offered us a free dessert.

"Sympathy" is uncountable. We use "a little" to mean "some" in a positive way.