What tense is that verb?

[123nobody321]

Hi forum,

I have a question regarding this 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)
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,

The solution mentions, that the verb describing their apparent abilities cannot be present tense, so "as equipped" must be changed to "to have been equipped". Here I have a problem. Is "as equipped" really present tense? Isn't present tense just "equip"!? "Equip" + "ed" seems for me like past simple like e.g. present: to mention, -> past: mentioned ?

Can somebody please explain?
Oh, and is there maybe another way of getting the right answer without referring to the verb tense here?

Many thanks,

nobody

[Jim@StratusPrep]

Think of "appeared as" as a phrase talking about how they looked not describing a characteristic.

[vinay1983]

Hi forum,

I have a question regarding this 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)
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,

The solution mentions, that the verb describing their apparent abilities cannot be present tense, so "as equipped" must be changed to "to have been equipped". Here I have a problem. Is "as equipped" really present tense? Isn't present tense just "equip"!? "Equip" + "ed" seems for me like past simple like e.g. present: to mention, -> past: mentioned ?

Can somebody please explain?
Oh, and is there maybe another way of getting the right answer without referring to the verb tense here?

Many thanks,

nobody

I think it is more about the strength(virtue) of appearance rather than the generic appearance.(physical). So according to me it is like this:

The neanderthals appear to have been equipped

[vishnum]

Hi,

"Have been equipped " tells us that until their disappearance they were honing some strength. While equipped tells that they lost the strength before their disappearance and appear doesn't make sense over there.

Appear to be in present tense as it is still today the author opines the same thought.

Br,
Vishnu.