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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Hi Alexander,

Here goes the answer to your question:

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.


Neanderthals existed in the past. They do not exist anymore. But the way this sentence has been written, it suggests that they still exist. They “appear” as equipped…. This is the flaw in this sentence. We need a verb that suggests that Neanderthals are extinct.


Now let’s see the sentence with the correct answer choice:


Combining enormous physical strength with higher intelligence, the Neanderthals appear to have been equipped to face 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.


This choice corrects the verb tense error in the original sentence. Verb phrase “appear to have been equipped” correctly suggests that Neanderthals when alive were equipped to face any environmental problem. They were equipped at that time.


If choice B were worded as “appear to be equipped to face…”, it would be incorrect because again it would convey the same meaning as Choice A.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Concepts tested here: Tenses + Verb Forms

• The perfect infinitive verb form (“to + have + past participle” – “to have been” in this sentence) is used to refer to the earlier of two actions in the past, refer to hypothetical actions, and actions that will be completed in the future.
• For referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb"- "to + draw" in this sentence) is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "drawing" in this sentence) construction.
• Information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses "as equipped" to refer to the earlier of two actions that concluded in the past - Neanderthals being equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path and them appearing to have been so; please remember, the perfect infinitive verb form (“to + have + past participle”) is used to refer to the earlier of two actions in the past. Further, Option A uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facing" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "equipped"; please remember, for referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facing" in this sentence) construction.

B: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the perfect infinitive verb form (“to + have + past participle” – “to have...equipped” in this sentence) to refer to the earlier of two actions that concluded in the past - Neanderthals being equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path and them appearing to have been so. Further, Option B correctly uses the simple present tense verb "appear" to refer to information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option B uses the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb" - "to + face" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "equipped".

C: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses "as equipped" to refer to the earlier of two actions that concluded in the past - Neanderthals being equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path and them appearing to have been so; please remember, the perfect infinitive verb form (“to + have + past participle” – “to have...equipped” in this sentence) is used to refer to the earlier of two actions in the past.

D: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses "as equipped" to refer to the earlier of two actions that concluded in the past - Neanderthals being equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path and them appearing to have been so; please remember, the perfect infinitive verb form (“to + have + past participle” – “to have...equipped” in this sentence) is used to refer to the earlier of two actions in the past. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "appeared" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.

E: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "appeared" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. Further, Option E uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facing" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "equipped"; please remember, for referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "facing" in this sentence) construction.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



To understand the concept of "Infinitive" vs "Present Participle" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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hi all,

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,

some theory first

use of as
1. for comparison: ex: Amy takes care of the children in the day care as a mother does.

2. for simultaneous action: ex: As I was traveling in the subway, I noticed attended bags underneath the seat.

3. for giving reason: ex: Mary has substituted green tea for coffee as she wants to cut down her caffeine consumption.

4. for presenting role or function: ex: As an elder sister, Emma takes care of her siblings very well.

now coming to the question

Now as we read the sentence we cant find any: comparison,simultaneous action,reason,or presenting any role.

so the use of "as" is wrong here.

therefore option A, C, D are out.

now we have B and E.

(B) appear to have been 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,

OPTION E has 2 errors:

firstly:
appeared to have been equipped=====> use of appeared changes the meaning ...it means they appeared in the past but the context of the sentence is in present tense...

secondly:
for facing is unidiomatic.

more to share:

the use "have been" after "TO"...doesnt means it is in present perfect "......it is no longer a verb and now its an infinitive so it is talking about the past.

hope it helps.

press kudos if you like the post.

SKM

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

The issue here is with 'appear as equipped to ..... ' . 'Appear as' indicates comparison but there's nothing to compare to in the sentence. So option B corrects that by using the correct usage of 'appear to have been equipped .....'. Hope this helps.

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".

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.

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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I was able to narrow down B & E because of the past tense meaning. I incorrectly selected E. The OG says "for facing" E.

Thanks,
Al

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.

(B) appear to have been 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,

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.

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

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 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.

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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