阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Mrs. White lost her dog. After searching place after place, she placed a “Lost Dog” advertisement in the local newspaper.
The following morning her phone rang and a        voice began, “I’m calling about your   __   .” Then the caller coughed and cleared her voice a few times. She        that she wasn’t feeling well and that, in fact, she hadn’t felt well        her husband died three years ago. She went on to tell that her parents had passed away, and her sister was        with a deadly illness. Even her friends were not doing well.
After 30 minutes of       , sympathizing and even trying offers of help, the dog owner   __    the conversation back to the        subject. “About the dog,” she said.
“Oh,” the caller       , “I don’ t have him. I just thought I’d call to        you up.”
Maybe her technique needed improving, but her        were right on. And though “cheering up” may not be exactly what we       , we certainly need encouragement ---        --- at times. The need for sincere        is basic among human beings.
Do you need encouragement? There’re those who will support your side. Educator Booker T. Washington observed, “There’re two ways of        one’s strength: one is pushing down;   __    is pulling up.” There’re people ready to pull you up when others are pushing down. We need those people in our lives - those who use their strength by pulling us up.
I believe these people can be found       . I believe that we can all become “     ”, lifting one another from dark pits of discouragement to the light of       . And when that happens, the world will never be       .

A．loud B．weak C．sweet D．strong

A．bag B．phone C．dog D．wife

A．insisted B．demanded C．explained D．complained

A．since B．when C．until D．though

A．concerned B．blessed C．affected D．diagnosed

A．talking B．explaining C．questioning D．listening

A．led B．started C．removed D．forgot

A．casual B．tough C．original D．usual

A．agreed B．replied C．advised D．asked

A．keep B．put C．cheer D．get

A．greetings B．instructions C．intentions D．directions

A．require B．enquire C．reject D．ensure

A．taking up B．picking up C．putting up D．pulling up

A．encouragement B．apology C．friendship D．gratitude

A．making B．exercising C．gaining D．collecting

A．another B．others C．else D．the other

A．nowhere B．everywhere C．elsewhere D．somewhere

A．pullers B．pushers C．believers D．callers

A．confidence B．faith C．success D．hope

A．different B．the same C．similar D．contrary