Fill in the blanks (X, Y) in the following sentences with the appropriate word/phrase given in the brackets: I. I spent X (less/the least) money on clothes in the whole family. II. The people who work the hardest make Y (a few/the fewest) mistakes. Select the option that provides the correct combination of words/phrases for blanks X and Y.

Step-by-step solution

In sentence I, the comparison is made among all the members of the family, which requires the superlative degree. Since 'money' is an uncountable noun, 'the least' is the correct phrase. In sentence II, the comparison is again in the superlative degree as indicated by 'the hardest'. Since 'mistakes' is a plural countable noun, 'the fewest' is the correct phrase. Thus, X is 'the least' and Y is 'the fewest'. Answer: I - the least, II - the fewest