a most satisfying job

[Aelli]

I have a sentence in my testbook: "Teaching reading is a ___ job."

With such options for the blank:

most satisfying
most satisfied
mostly satisfied
most satisfaction

I believe the first answer is fittest the best, but I don't understand why there's the article "a" before "most". I learned that we should always use the article "the" before "easiest", "most", "smartest", etc. Are there exceptions?

 

[Florentia52]

Here are some threads on the topic:

a most important one <vs> 'the' most important one'
A most worthwhile/the most worthwhile

If these do not answer your question, please join the discussion in any relevant thread. I'll close this thread to prevent duplication.

Florentia52, moderator