1. A predicative nominative is a noun or a pronoun which follows a linking verb and refers to something before that verb. In your case, the correct answer is B, because "a shelter" goes after the linking verb "is", and refers to "a lean-to". 2. A participle has the form of infinitive + ing. In this case, the answer is D, flourishing.
Answer: the author supports the idea that female pilots were treated differently than male pilots by stating that women were not “meant” to do risky jobs. It emphasizes that everybody did not expect women to step up to the challenge of doing risky jobs.