49. 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.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】 Verb Form; Diction
Because Neanderthals "disappeared," the verb describing their apparent abilities cannot be present tense, so as equipped must be changed to to have been equipped. The expression equipped to face is clearer and more direct than equipped for facing.
A As equipped indicates that Neanderthals still appear this way; equipped should be followed by an infinitive 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 different 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.
The correct answer is B.