The correct answer is A) The men were inspired by the words and continued their mission, despite hardships.
The effect that George Washington's 1776 reading of Thomas Paine's words had on the upcoming mission across Delaware was that the men were inspired by the words and continued their mission, despite hardships.
Thomas Paine was a good writer and had a Patriotic sense that served to inspire the troops of the Continental Army when it was most needed. That is why General George Washington, leader of the Continental Army, dedicated to reading Thomas Pain's writings.
Thomas Paine was the author of pamphlets such as "Common Sense," or "The American Crisis," documents that offered arguments to support the American troops in the Revolutionary War and clarified the reasons for going into war against the British troops.