Hi Alexander,

Yes, your analysis about "for verb-ing" and "to verb" is correct. The former shows some relation between the main verb and the "for verb-ing" while the latter is used to show the purpose of the previous action.

However, as I have already mentioned in my above post, even if in Choice B, use of "to face" is correct, it has a very glaring verb tense error. The verb tense error is graver than the "for verb-ing" Vs. "to verb". Hence, we reject Choice B right away.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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Hi bagdbmba,

Thanks for posting your doubts here.

Choice E is incorrect for two reasons:

1. Use of past tense verb "appeared" is incorrect. This is so because this tense denotes that the Neanderthals in the past only appeared to be equipped... It has got no bearing in the present. However, this is not the intended meaning. This sentence presents some general facts about Neanderthals. So the information must be written in simple present tense to denote that universal fact.

2. Yes, "for facing" is also incorrect here as it fails to present the intent of being equipped.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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Can we eliminate the choices using Verb-ing and Verb-ed modifiers also ???

Regards
SG

Difficult question. In order to correctly answer this question, I think one needs to know about 'perfect infinitive'.

I would like to add that 'paths' is also wrong here. Because it means every neanderthal had his or her own path:)
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If in C we replace paths with path, will that be the correct sentence?

Combining enormous physical strength with higher intelligence, the Neanderthals appear as equipped for facing any 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,
usage of "appear as" shows that they still appear hence wrong + for facing doesn't conveys the intended meaning

(B) appear to have been equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
Correct

(C) appear as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,
same as A + paths must be path

(D) appeared as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,
Usage of "appeared as" showed in past hence changes the intended meaning + paths must be path

(E) appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
Same as D

Hence B
Ans

Regards
SG

Before Jumping to Question let's talk about usage of As
used to
1. Compare - " Ganguly is as good as Sachin (is)" , here as needs clause "Sachin is"
2. Simultaneous Action - "I am talking as I am writing " Here as needs clause "I am writing"
3. Role - "I am working as Tester" - Here as need noun.

above are roles played by As, if As is not playing any of the above role in your sentence then it is wrong (to almost in every occurrence ")

Meaning Analysis :
the Neanderthals appear as equipped for facing any obstacle, but reality is different. (Shortcut meaning - Excuse me for this)

POE
"As" in option A,c and D does not play any standard role as mentioned above. More over, as is not followed by full clause. Hence option A,C and D can be marked incorrect on this ground.

In option B and Option E, only difference is
"equipped to face" Vs "equipped for facing" Here Equipped for is not correct, we always say "I am equipped to solve this efficiently" we never say "I am equipped for doing x work"
Moreover Infinitve is used to show the purpose instead of preposition (For).

"Neanderthals appear as equipped" (for some purpose )"to face any obstacle.

Hence option B is correct

The option D isn't correctly typed in the question.
I think it should have "paths" in the end.

Combining enormous physical strength with higher intelligence,the neanderthals appear as equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,but their relatively sudden disappearnce during the paleolithic era indicates that an inability to adapt to some environmental change led o 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 path,
(E) appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
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Combining enormous physical strength with higher intelligence,the neanderthals appear as equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,but their relatively sudden disappearnce during the paleolithic era indicates that an inability to adapt to some environmental change led o their extinction.

NOTE : This question gives us a BIG TAKEAWAY, never miss the non-underlined part. Read the complete sentence. Because here from the non-underlined part we come to know about the TENSE of the sentence, which helps in choosing between appear VS appeared!

(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 path,
(E) appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,

ANALYSING THE ERRORS IN THE ORIGINAL SENTENCE :

1. equipped to VERB VS equipped for VERBING
Equipped To VERB -- IDIOMATIC USAGE
Equipped For VERBING -- NON IDIOMATIC USAGE

2. appear as equipped VS appeared as equipped VS appear to have been equipped
Appear as equipped -- it implies as if neanderthals right now appear as equipped. However, as per the intended meaning of the sentence neanderthals are extinct now. INCORRECT
Appear to have been equipped -- when we say that Neanderthals appear to have been equipped, we do not mean that neanderthals are equipped right now. They were equipped sometime in the past. However, this fact is what appears to us now.
Appeared as equipped -- The use of simple present ‘indicates’ in the second independent clause indicates that the sentence is talking about the present. Therefore, we need simple present “appear” as the verb, instead of “appeared”. Logically also, the sentence seems to say that it ‘appears’ that Neanderthals were equipped. It doesn’t seem to say that it so appeared in the past but not now.

3. PATH vs PATHS
As we are talking of a single obstacle, so we must be talking of a single path and not multiple paths. Therefore, usage of "path" is logical.

After POE, only choice B remains.