Which of the following is a near synonym of the word ‘excite’?

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. There lived three friends who really liked spending time together, but one of them was black, and wanted to be white. One of his friends investigated how to turn his friend into a white kid, and found out that there was a faraway town where the sea could change the skin colour of those swimming in it. So he said to his friend that he knew how to turn him white. His friend was excited and asked him how it was possible. He said that they had to travel to a place where the sea could change his colour. They all agreed. The three friends began their trip, first by train. They had complicated moments, but finally reached the place they had talked about. They were surprised when they realized that the sea was a chocolate sea. They were excited and got swept up in their wishes, and three of them ended up in the chocolate sea, eating that delicious chocolate. Later, when they all were satisfied, they went out, and the white kids realized that they were the ones who had changed their colour instead of the black kid. Then they began to cry and prayed to God. They said that they were sorry and they would respect people as they were, and that they had realised that what was in the heart was what mattered. Little by little, the chocolate on their bodies was melting. They looked to the sky and said thanks to God. The kids learnt the lesson.