The pep rally really heartened the team, who had suffered so many setbacks and challenges during the season that many were thinking of quitting.
To hearten means to give someone hope.
This must be from a standardized test. The wording is a little confusing, but I'd say it is a metaphor. Google says the definition of metaphor is "a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable." This is saying something <em>is</em> something, or comparing two items without using "as" or "like". Have a good night/day!
-Dylan (AKA Animus)
<em>a e s t h e t i c </em>
