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.

• 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

Answer 1

The correct option is B appear to have been equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path,

From the given sentence it is quite evident that the use of 'as' is incorrect. This is the first error that jumps out at the reader. 'As' is generally used in four particular cases. 'As' is used for comparison, to depict simultaneous action, for giving a reason and for presenting a role or function. None of these uses of 'as' apply to the given sentence. Therefore, the use of 'as' is wrong here which eliminates options A, C and D. Option E has two errors- the use of 'appeared' changes the meaning of the sentence as it is in past tense but the context is in present. Also, 'for facing' is non - idiomatic and 'have been' is no longer a verb but an infinitive which implies past tense. Due to all these errors option E is incorrect. By avoiding all these errors, B becomes the correct choice.