Answer: Stricken
Explanation:
Stricken means when an individual or something is seriously affected by a condition that is undesirable or unpleasant. For example, when we say someone is stricken by a strange disease, it means the person is being affected by a strange disease which brings an unwanted feeling to the person affected.
Therefore, the word in the text that means "seriously affected" is option A "stricken".
