Responding to a pm:

Removing the modifier for each option:

A. In order to be converted into high-quality digital versions, analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance,

In order to be converted into high quality digital versions, analog audio files analog files must be edited to ...
Incorrect

B. In order to convert analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, into high-quality digital versions,

In order to convert analog audio files into high-quality digital versions, analog files must be edited to remove ...
The problem is that we begin with active voice. So we expect a structure such as this "in order to convert A to B, I must edit ..." ... basically, I must do this to convert this to that...
But the sentence says "in order to convert A to B, files must be edited..." In passive form, it should be "in order to be converted.., files must be ..."

C. In order for analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, to be converted into high-quality digital versions,

In order for analog audio files to be converted into high-quality digital versions, analog files must be edited to remove ...

This is correct as per our above discussion.

D. Analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, can be converted into high-quality digital versions,

Analog audio files can be converted into high-quality digital versions, analog files must be edited to remove ...
This is a run-on sentence. Two independent clauses combined with just a comma is incorrect. We need a conjunction here.

E. Analog audio files, which were created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance and can be converted into high-quality digital versions,

Analog audio files analog files must be edited to remove...

Incorrect.
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In order to be converted into high-quality digital versions, analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, analog files must be edited to remove undesirable audio artifacts introduced during the original recording.

A. In order to be converted into high-quality digital versions, analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, --- 'analogue audio files', the subject has no verb; But if the redundant first subject is removed from the text in the underlined part, then the modifier starting with 'created' will modify digital versions


B. In order to convert analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, into high-quality digital versions,-- 'To convert' is modified by analog files.

C. In order for analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, to be converted into high-quality digital versions, --- correct choice.


D. Analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, can be converted into high-quality digital versions, --- 'can be converted' changes the original meaning

E. Analog audio files, which were created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance and can be converted into high-quality digital versions--- a fragment as well as unparallel.
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OE:

(A) The sentence states the subject twice (analog audio files … analog files must be edited). (Alternatively, you can think of the first part as a sentence fragment: analog audio files is a subject but doesn’t have a verb to go along with it.)

(B) This choice is quite tricky. Strip out the long created … performance modifier and the sentence reads: In order to convert analog audio files into high-quality digital versions, analog files must be edited … . The construction in order to convert is an active construction: someone (or something) is converting the files. In this case, the subject of the core sentence (beginning after the comma) needs to state whoever (or whatever) is performing the conversion. For example: In order to convert from analog to digital, the audio engineer must… The core subject in this problem, however, begins with analog files, implying that the files are converting themselves (In order to convert analog audio files …, analog files must …); this is illogical.

(C) CORRECT. Analog audio files is now part of the modifier in order to convert; it is no longer a subject of the sentence. Further, this choice properly uses the construction: In order for analog audio files to be converted, analog files must be edited. You can use a passive construction (to be converted) to avoid having to say who is converting the files.

(D) This answer contains a complete sentence (Analog audio files … can be converted into high-quality digital versions). The non-underlined portion also contains a complete sentence (analog files must be edited) and the two sentences are connected by a comma. This is a run-on sentence; two complete sentences must be connected by a semi-colon or a comma followed by a conjunction.

(E) The sentence states the subject twice (Analog audio files … analog files must be edited). (Alternatively, you can think of the first part as a sentence fragment: analog audio files is a subject but doesn’t have a verb to go along with it.) The parallelism introduced with and can be converted also introduces a meaning ambiguity: What can be converted into high-quality digital versions? This choice could be read to say that the anomalous sounds will be converted.

Thanks.

Can you please elaborate why B is wrong??

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Thanks...

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Approach -
In order to be converted into high-quality digital versions should be attached to analog files must be edited to remove undesirable audio artifacts introduced during the original recording.

Therefore, eliminate A, B and E.

Out of C and D, in D can be converted clause refers to the first analog files whereas it should subordinate to the next one.

Therefore, C

the OA given by manhattanprep as to why (B) is incorrect is as follows: "The construction in order to convert is an active construction: someone (or something) is converting the files. In this case, the subject of the core sentence (beginning after the comma) needs to state whoever (or whatever) is performing the conversion."

It's still not clear to me why we need an agent following the modifier here.
It's clear to me when a participial phrase (ending in -ing or -ed) acting as a modifier needs an agent (e.g. "Driving the car..., Bob...")
However, in this case it's still not clear why we need an agent following the modifier. Answer (B) still sounds "right" to my ears even when stripping out the proceeding modifier. What am I missing here? Is there a general rule I can follow?

Hi,

Could you please tell if "In order for" is the correct idiomatic usage?

Hi VeritasKarishma
Thanks for your explanation. Can you please help me figure out why is option C not a Run On sentence?
As I see it so far, it is: In order NOUN, (noun modifier ok), VERB, NOUN + VERB.

No, it is not a run-on sentence. When we try to join two independent clauses with just a comma, we have a run on sentence.
But here, "in order for... versions" is a phrase.
"In order for A to do B" is a phrase. It doesn't have a subject and a verb.

In order for A to do B, C must happen - this is perfectly fine.

"In order for ... versions, analog files must be edited ...." - Subject is "analog files" and verb is "must be edited"
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My question is on B and C and the "in order for/to" construction.

How can I identify " in order to convert" in B as active voice? It's clear to me that "C" is passive because 1) the subject [analog audio files] has an action [converted] performed on it by someone or something else and 2) we have "to be" + past participle of "to convert".

I think what's really throwing me off is the "in order for/to" construction and the infinitive "to convert". My understanding is that verbs in the infinitive act as nouns (https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/verbs-that-require-infinitives-on-the-gmat/). But if "to convert" is acting as a noun in "B", how can it be in active voice?

GMATNinja
VeritasKarishma
how to identify the active structure in option B

In order to convert A into B, one must ... - active
(who will convert? One)

In order for A to be converted into B, this must happen - passive
A will be converted into B. The do-er of the action is irrelevant.
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In order to be converted into high-quality digital versions, analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, analog files must be edited to remove undesirable audio artifacts introduced during the original recording.


A. In order to be converted into high-quality digital versions, analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance,

B. In order to convert analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, into high-quality digital versions,

C. In order for analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, to be converted into high-quality digital versions,

D. Analog audio files, created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance, can be converted into high-quality digital versions,

E. Analog audio files, which were created at a time when the recording equipment itself introduced pops, hisses, and other anomalous sounds that detract from the performance and can be converted into high-quality digital versions,


Between B and C the split between order to and order for can be chosen on the basis of the logic that 'in order to' written in active voice must have someone doing the action. But B does not have anyone doing the action of editing. C instead uses the passive version order for and need not mention someone explicitly doing the action. Hence C is correct. All other options have two subjects running into each other.
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