18. Select the best word for the blank in the following sentence: He was __________ by her kind words.
Answer: D
He was affected by her kind words.
The appropriate word to fill in the blank is "affected," which means to be influenced or touched by something. In this context, it indicates that her kind words had a significant emotional impact on him.
A) affect
"Affect" is a verb that means to influence something. In this sentence, the correct grammatical structure requires the past participle form, which is not satisfied by this option. Therefore, it is incorrect.
B) effect
"Effect" is a noun that refers to the result or outcome of a particular influence. While it is related to the context of influence, it does not fit grammatically in the sentence, making it an unsuitable choice.
C) effected
"Effected" is the past tense of "effect," which means to bring something about or to cause it to happen. This option does not fit the context of the sentence, as it does not convey the emotional influence implied by the kind words.
D) affected
"Affected" is the correct choice because it is the past participle of "affect," meaning to have an emotional impact. This accurately conveys that the kind words had a significant influence on him.
Conclusion
The word "affected" is the only option that correctly indicates an emotional response to the kind words, fulfilling both the grammatical and contextual requirements of the sentence. The other options do not fit, either because they are in the wrong form or do not convey the intended meaning. Thus, "affected" is definitively the best choice.