Topic: Gerunds & Participles,

Best Answer Explained in Below-:

The word "overwhelmed" in the sentence "Overwhelmed by the menu choices, I just closed my eyes and pointed with my finger" functions as a participle, specifically a past participle. Participles are verb forms that can act as adjectives, providing descriptive information about nouns or pronouns. In this case, "overwhelmed" describes the state of the subject "I."

The structure of the sentence also indicates that "overwhelmed" is being used to form a participial phrase. This phrase ("Overwhelmed by the menu choices") acts as an introductory element, setting the scene for the main clause ("I just closed my eyes and pointed with my finger"). It communicates the reason or condition under which the action occurred, emphasizing the speaker's emotional response to the overwhelming choices.

In contrast, a gerund (Option B) would function as a noun, an infinitive (Option C) would follow the "to" form of a verb, and an affirmative (Option D) would refer to a statement that asserts something is true. Thus, the correct identification of "overwhelmed" as a participle highlights its role in enhancing the meaning of the sentence by describing the speaker's feelings.