Hello Everyone!

Let's tackle this question, one issue at a time, and narrow it down to the correct answer! First, here is the original question with the major differences between options highlighted in orange:

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

After a quick glance over the options, a few key differences stand out:

1. appear(ed) as / appear(ed) to have been
2. equipped for facing / equipped to face
3. path / paths

Let's start with #1 on our list: appear(ed) as / appear(ed) to have been. While this may look complicated, it's really just a matter of verb tense and meaning. Here is what each of these structures really means:

appear(ed) as --> present tense --> Neanderthals still exist and are equipped to face obstacles
appear(ed) to have been --> past tense --> Neanderthals don't still exist, but they were equipped for obstacles in the past

Since we know that the Neanderthals are extinct because of what's written later in the sentence, we know that we can rule out any sentences that suggest Neanderthals still exist in present day. Let's see how each option breaks down:

(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,
(*While option D is technically past tense, it's not idiomatically correct to say "appeared as" in this case. Saying "appeared to have been" is clearer.)
(E) appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,

We can eliminate options A, C, & D because they place Neanderthals as alive in present day, which they are certainly not.

Next, let's tackle #2 on our list: equipped for facing / equipped to face. This is an issue of idioms! While the phrases "equipped to" and "equipped for" are both grammatically correct, there is a rule for what is allowed to come after them:

equipped to + VERB (Our new car is equipped to drive in icy conditions.)
equipped for + NOUN (My family is well equipped for a tornado.)

Let's see how the remaining options hold up against this rule:

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

This is CORRECT because it uses the structure equipped to + VERB correctly.

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

This is INCORRECT because it uses a verb after "equipped for," when the rule states that it can only be followed by a noun.


There you have it - option B is the correct choice!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.
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As …as is idiom; and Choice A, C and D are out for the same reason

As for choice B the verb “appear” has invisible object “us” (appear to whom). As we are talking “the Neanderthals” in the present context. A present verb is required. Hence the correct answer

IMO D
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.

(D) appeared as equipped to face any obstacle the
environment could put in their paths,-->"red" seems to be consistent in past tense

And the "relatively sudden disappearance" implies that Neanderthals is no longer "appear"but "appeared".
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MindFul,
Your interpretation of appear/appeared seems to be wrong. It is now that Neanderthals 'appear' equipped, it is not that they appeared quipped. In the Paleolithic age, Neanderthals were either equipped or not equipped to face the circumstances and apparently they weren't as they disappeared.

The tone of the sentence is in present tense as hence it should be appear and not appeared.

I hope I am clear. Guys please comment as well.
cheers.
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The idiom is "appear to be" not "appear as".

Appear as - may exist in the following sentence: It appears as if/as though I was wrong

Usage of appear according to Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

You've got to appear (to be) calm in an interview even if you're terrified underneath.
To people who don't know him he probably appears (to be) rather unfriendly.
Things aren't always what they appear to be.
[+ to infinitive] She appears to actually like the man, which I find incredible.
There appears to be some mistake.
[+ (that)] It appears (that) she left the party alone.
It appears to me (that) (= I think that) we need to make some changes.
FORMAL It would appear (that) (= It seems that) nobody on board the aircraft actually had a licence to fly it.
[+ adverb or preposition] It appears as if/as though I was wrong.
Everything was not as it appeared - secret deals had been done.
I know how it must appear, but it's not really as bad as it looks.
"Has he left?" "It appears not/so."
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I think its B..
Just checked OG 12..the OA is also B..

Here is the explanation

A As equipped indicates that Neanderthals still
appear this way; equipped should be followed
by an infi nitive form instead of a
prepositional phrase.

B Correct. The verb tense clearly indicates
that the current evidence is about
Neanderthals in the past.

C As equipped does not indicate that
Neanderthals appeared this way in the past;
while individual Neanderthals may well
have followed diff erent paths, this sentence
is about the 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 For facing is an incorrect substitution of a
prepositional phrase for an infinitive.
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Hi GMATers

My first split was appear vs appeared. When did the neanderthals appear equipped? They appear equipped now. Back when they were alive, they were equiped. These days we can't tell for sure, so when we observe them now, they appear equipped. Alternatively you could say that appear needs to be in the same tense as indicates: appears X, but indicates Y.

That leaves only A, B and C which can be split into appears as equipped vs appears to have been equipped.

From this point my instict told me appears to have been equipped because it sounds right (the native speaker coming out of me here). But I think you can eliminate appears as because it compares appears with equipped.

hope that helps

B.
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Hi Honchos,

Let me see if I can help.

To state the obvious.

appear = present tense
appeared = past tense

Now which is correct here?

We are looking NOW at something that happened in the past.

So therefore, you need present tense. It 'appear(s)' to us NOW that something happened in the past.

Hope that helps.

James

I would like to bring up a second difference:

That between appear and appeared. In the case of E appeared is in the past tense and does not match the present tense of indicates. For that reason I would choose B over E. To answer your question about idioms, I would rarely use equipped for... anything. the better idiom is equipped to do something.
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Thanks Shraddha...it does help. Can you comment on my question regarding:

..."for facing" is a [for verb-ing] vs [to verb] modifier. I think of it as "for what" vs " in order to" - In choice B, the Neaderthals were equipped in order toface any obstacles in their path