Why does enthusiasm and attitude matter so much in the workplace? Write about a time when you were enthusiastic about the work you were doing? How did people know? What made you so excited about what you were doing?

the answer is "a" although apex might say best book of the year.

how is the underlined gerund phrase used in the sentence?  

josh's plan, rushing the passer, seemed sound to us.

a.

object of a preposition

b.

direct object

c.

appositive

d.

subject