Hi e-GMAT,
Why E is incorrect ? Is it because of 'for facing' in place of 'to face' only or the verb 'appeared' instead of 'appear' is also responsible?

I chose B over E because of the first reason but I'm not sure about the second one.

Please explain.
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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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This is not an easy one, lets move gradually with splits.

appear Vs appeared split

We need a present tense verb.

We can eliminate D and E.

the Neanderthals appear ................................, but their .......................... indicates [This is the clue and the decision point top select present time verb appear.]

appear and indicates both are present tense verb and hence parallel.

equipped to equipped for. This is an Idiomatic split. equipped to is the correct Idiom.
So A and E are out.

We are down to B and C.

Understanding the meaning and Sequence of tense:
Something is appearing to us now, but in past(the Neanderthals).

There is a tricky and very subtle contrast, you have to understand here how often GMAT uses contrast and mix it with the sequencing of tenses, you will find 3-4 questions like this in Gmat prep question pack 1 that has a total 75 SC question.

C is unable to justify the contrast and leaves some ounce of ambiguous thought. so the selection of B over C is based on sequence of tenses, meaning and contrast, have been clearly confirms that something is in past and is appearing to us/author in the present, but it no more exists. indicates was the clue to have this decision without any ambiguity.

Can we eliminate the choices using Verb-ing and Verb-ed modifiers also ???

Regards
SG

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,
(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,


hi smartyguy,

firstly here the modifier 'Neanderthals' is correctly used and is also in non underlined portion...
what else is this question testing....
1) appear as vs appear to...
appear as someone/something eg.. moon appears as a ball from earth...
appear to be... as in this case, appear to have been equipped is correct..
2) appear vs appeared..
as we are talking of future in past ('could' shows future of a past event ).... and also we are talking in present about a past incident.. appear wins over appeared..
3) a small point .. in most cases you will find infinitive form equipped to face better than equipped for facing..

if we see above three points only B remains...

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:)

Strictly speaking, even without knowing perfect infinitives, the correct answer can be arrived at, through process of elimination.

equipped to is the right idiom and so, A and E are out. C and D use paths, but since the sentence refers to the Neanderthals collectively as a species, the use of paths is incorrect.

Nevertheless, knowledge of perfect infinitives can come in handy on GMAT, because they can indeed be tested and are very flexible: They can act either as present perfect, past perfect or (in some rare cases) as simple past, and always indicate that the action in the perfect infinitive happened before the action of the main verb of the clause.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses perfect infinitive, its application and examples in significant detail. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id, I can mail the corresponding section. In fact, it’s interesting that our book actually refers to this very official question in the section on perfect infinitives.
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If in C we replace paths with path, will that be the correct sentence?

hi Naina1,


what is this question testing....
1) appear as vs appear to...
appear as someone/something eg.. moon appears as a ball from earth...
appear to be... as in this case, appear to have been equipped is correct..
2) appear vs appeared..
as we are talking of future in past ('could' shows future of a past event ).... and also we are talking in present about a past incident.. appear wins over appeared..
3) a small point .. in most cases you will find infinitive form equipped to face better than equipped for facing..

lets see choice C if paths is changed to path..
(C) appear as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,

as you can see appear as is not appropriate here .. appear to is better used here..

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

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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

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 as is incorrect - As is used for comparison , to denote simultaneous action , role and reason . Usage of "for facing" is also incorrect here as it fails to present the intent of being equipped.
(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, - usage of as is incorrect ;The use of paths is incorrect since the sentence refers to the Neanderthals collectively as a species
(D) appeared as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths, - usage of as is incorrect ; Simple present is needed as the sentence presents some general facts about Neanderthals.
(E) appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path, - Usage of "for facing" is also incorrect here as it fails to present the intent of being equipped. Simple present is needed as the sentence presents some general facts about Neanderthals.

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

In my opinion, "path" is OK. It is not meant that each Neanderthal had a different path. As a group they had a path, though "paths" would also be alright.

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 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
- "as equipped for facing" = INCORRECT. should be "appeared TO face"

(B) appear to have been equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
- correct as is

(C) appear as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,
- "paths" should be "path"

(D) appeared as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
- "appeared" should be "appear" to maintain //ism with verb outside of underline "indicates"

(E) appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
- same as "A" ("for facing" error). same as "D" ("appeared" error)

tricky problem. key takeaways:
> "appeared FOR facing" = incorrect structure; "appeared TO face" = ideal structure
> LOOK OUTSIDE OF SENTENCE TO GAUGE VERB TENSE (i.e. spot "indicates" -- means sentence is PRESENT TENSE...therefore, "appeared" = INCORRECT)

Kudos please if you find helpful

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.

Why is "appear to have been equipped" in Option C better than "appeared to have been equipped" in Option D?

It is talking about past; why is "appeared" incorrect?

Thanks
Avijit