SC-76, OG 13th edition.

[NaimaB]

OG 13th Edition.

76. 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 or facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,

I could cancel option A and E on the basis of 'equipped for' but after that, got confused among option B, C and D. I chose option D ( simple past 'appeared' and plural 'paths') , which is wrong.

I want some help to clear the concept.

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Hi NaimaB,

In this SC, it's important to think about the "logic" behind the ideas that are presented. Since Neanderthals lived in the past, we can talk about the activities that they did in the past. The "assessment" of the Neanderthal is done in the PRESENT though. Theoretically, there could be past assessments of the Neanderthal (for example, an old idea or theory from the 1900s), but the word "INDICATES" (in the back half of the sentence) tells us that we're dealing with ideas that are in the present tense.

With the above information, we can immediately eliminate D and E.

With the remaining options, we can now focus on what the Neanderthal did IN THE PAST. Answers A and C don't include the necessary past tense verb(s) that we need (they also use the word "as" incorrectly).

Final Answer: B

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[NaimaB]

Hi,

With the remaining options, we can now focus on what the Neanderthal did IN THE PAST. Answers A and C don't include the necessary past tense verb(s) that we need (they also use the word "as" incorrectly).

I did not get the point you made about past tense verbs. Would appreciate much if you please explain it in more detail.

Can I solve the problem in the following way without considering the 'tense' factor?

- Cross off A, C and D for incorrect use of 'as'.
- Cross off E on the basis of 'equipped for'

[GMATGuruNY]

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,

In English, we have two infinitive tenses: the present infinitive (TO + VERB) and the perfect infinitive (TO + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE).

The present infinitive expresses CONTEMPORANEOUS action (an action happening AT THE SAME TIME as the main action):
John IS proud TO BE president.
Here, John IS proud (in the present) TO BE president (also in the present).

The perfect infinitive expresses PRIOR action (an action that happened PRIOR to the main action):
John IS proud TO HAVE BEEN president.
Here, John IS proud (in the present) TO HAVE BEEN president (in the past).

One definition of to appear is to seem.
The intention of the SC above is to discuss WHAT SEEMS TO BE TRUE about the Neanderthals.
The Neanderthals appear to have been equipped to face any obstacle..
Here, the Neanderthals APPEAR (in other words, they SEEM -- right now, in the present) TO HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED (in the past).

Only B offers the needed construction.

The correct answer is B.

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Hi NaimaB,

YES, you can eliminate the 4 incorrect answers for the reasons that you listed. One of the interesting aspects of most SCs is that they're usually based on 2-4 grammar rules each. Knowing 2 of the rules is usually enough to help you eliminate the wrong answers and find the correct one (although you sometimes need to know a 3rd rule to get the answer).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich