Combining enormous physical strength with higher
intelligence, the Neanderthals appear as equipped for
facing anv obstacle the environment could put in their
path, but their relatively sudden disappearance during
the Paleolithic era indicates that an inability to adapt
to some environmental change led to their extinction.
(A) appear as equipped for facing any obstacle the
environment could put in their path,
(B) appear to have been equipped to face any
obstacle the environment could put in their path,
(C) appear as equipped to face any obstacle the
environment could put in their paths,
(D) appeared as equipped to face any obstacle the
environment could put in their paths,
(E) appeared to have been equipped for facing any
obstacle the environment could put in their path,
Verb form; Diction
Because Neanderthals "disappeared," the verb
describing their apparent abilitiescannot be
presenttense, so asequipped must be changedto
to have been equipped. Theexpression equipped to
face is clearer and more direct than equippedfor
facing.
A Asequipped indicates that Neanderthals still
appear this way; equipped should be followed
by an infinitiveform instead of a
prepositional phrase.
B Correct. The verb tense clearly indicates
that the current evidence is about
Neanderthals in the past.
C Asequipped does not indicate that
Neanderthals appeared this wayin the past;
while individual Neanderthals may well
havefollowed different paths, this sentence
is aboutthe single evolutionary path taken
by Neanderthals as a species.
D Present-tense appear is needed to parallel
present-tense indicates and to reinforce that
this is current evidence about Neanderthals
in the past; as in (C), paths should be
singular.
E Forfacing is an incorrect substitution ofa
prepositional phrase for an infinitive. here is my question,why the appear as equipped blabla is the present tense?equipped is not a past particles? so if equipped is not the past particles,what role does it plays?

HI,folks,i'mreallyconfused about this questions and its answer explanations