Most of his personal ---------------stolen

Analyze the question: We need the pair of words that correctly completes "Most of his personal __ stolen." This tests two things: the right word (effects vs. affects) and subject-verb agreement.

Explain the concept:

• Personal effects is a fixed phrase meaning one's personal belongings or possessions. "Effects" is a noun here.
• Affect is usually a verb (to influence), so "personal affects" is wrong in this context.
• Defects means faults or flaws, so "personal defects" doesn't fit the idea of something being stolen.
• Agreement: "Most of" takes its verb from the noun that follows. Since "effects" is plural, the verb must be plural: were, not "was".

Step-by-step solution:

1. The sentence is about things being stolen, so the noun must mean belongings. That gives effects, which rules out B (affects) and D (defects).
2. Between A and C, check the verb. "Most of his personal effects" has a plural noun (effects), so the verb is were.
3. C ("effects was") fails on agreement. D also leaves no verb to complete the sentence.

Correct sentence: "Most of his personal effects were stolen."

Tip: Remember "Affect = Action (verb), Effect = End result (noun)". In the phrase "personal effects," it is always the noun meaning belongings. With "most of," look at the noun after "of" to decide between singular and plural verbs: most of the water was, but most of the books were.