8th grade language arts help. Please I need help with this I don't understand these questions. Can you please explain these concepts to me and let me know if my answer is correct?

Question

Identify the italicized word or words in each sentence.
The ITALICIZED words are in CAPS

1. GOING OUTSIDE DURING A THUNDERSTORM is not the wisest thing to do in the summer

2. the pool, COVERED UP SINCE THE END OF SUMMER LAST YEAR, is now open, clean and ready to use.

my answers
1. b
2.a anyone please help me with this.

Answer 1

What do "a" and "b" refer to??

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/gerund.htm
and
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/gerundphrase.htm

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/participle.htm
and
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/participlephrase.htm