The answer should be “indicative”
The function of the phrase "hoping for a few scraps of food” in the first sentence is It is a participial phrase that modifies “puppy.”
<em>The participle phrase</em> starts either with the present (dependably ending with -ing) or past (dependably ending with -ed)
The participle phrase includes the modifiers or objects to complete the thought of the sentence. For instance, in the above sentence 'hoping' is the present and modifies the word <em>“puppy”</em>. Therefore, the participle phrase acts as an adjective always, providing a description of the sentence,
This is a simple sentence
I say true since it says they "have a better chance at being successful" instead of a definite chance.