A present participle is formed with the stem of the workd and the suffix -ing and it can have many functions, such as adjective, a part of the verb phrase.
Here all the stentences have a present participle! Here they are:
It is exciting to see the raised head of a dolphin in the water!
exciting - it can be seen as a present participle or adjective
When dolphins are above the water, they are breathing air.
breathing - this is definitely a present participle
Having adapted to pressure changes,
dolphins’ lungs enable them to dive below the ocean’s surface.
here "having" is the participle"
Swimming
dolphins need to break the surface for air every two minutes.
here "smimming" is the participle.
So the answer depends on which word was underlined!
can you please post the sentance?
The message the author is trying to convey about the passage
Answer
Readers would most likely connect this excerpt to their lives by relating to wanting to make their parents proud.