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'So as to' is not unidiomatic. Here the meaning that 'so as to' provides is inappropriate. It means the private group of concerned citizen would open the process to competitive bidding. But actually it is the city that would do so.. So clearly D is the required answer
Divyadisha
AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process
(B)and so the process could be opened
(C)to open the process
(D)so that the city could open the process
(E)in order that they could open the process

Meaning of the sentence is that a group of citizens are voiding long-term waste-removal contract so that the contract can be open for competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process 'so as' is not the right idiom
(B)and so the process could be opened 'and' indicates some parallal elements, which are not there in the sentence
(C)to open the process. I really had hard time knocking this off. But, it has lot of 'to' in it.
(D)so that the city could open the process. Clear meaning
(E)in order that they could open the process 'in order that' is not right idiom

I might have knocked choice 'C' for wrong reasons. Can anyone please advise?
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AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process
(B)and so the process could be opened
(C)to open the process
(D)so that the city could open the process
(E)in order that they could open the process

So that = Answers the question why ....

The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so that the city could open the process to competitive bidding.

Q. Why was the long-term waste-removal contract voided ?
A . To open the process to competitive bidding.
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Abhishek009
AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process
(B)and so the process could be opened
(C)to open the process
(D)so that the city could open the process
(E)in order that they could open the process

So that = Answers the question why ....

The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so that the city could open the process to competitive bidding.

Q. Why was the long-term waste-removal contract voided ?
A . To open the process to competitive bidding.

Hi Abhishek,

Can you please explain why option A is incorrect ?
The use of "so as to" doesn't seem to be an issue to me. Contrary to the posts above, I believe that "so as to" is a valid idiom.

Tx, Srinjoy.
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srinjoy1990

A is wrong because private group of citizens won't open the process to competitive bidding, the city will. Slight change in meaning
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Prateek176
srinjoy1990

A is wrong because private group of citizens won't open the process to competitive bidding, the city will. Slight change in meaning

Still not clear to me. It is the private group that is interested in opening the contract. By their action they would open the competition process , but not the city, wouldn't they?
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srinjoy1990 & berdibekov

Please visit this link, it might help you....

https://gmatclub.com/forum/so-that-usage-252742.html
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The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

Choice D is correct

(A)so as to open the process ( so as is unidiomatic rather so x as y is correct)
(B)and so the process could be opened
(C)to open the process( suggest that group of citizens are going to open the process rather than the city)
(D)so that the city could open the process(clear in meaning,correct use of so that)
(E)in order that they could open the process
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Abhishek009
srinjoy1990 & berdibekov

Please visit this link, it might help you....

https://gmatclub.com/forum/so-that-usage-252742.html
Thank you for your reply! I do not question the usage of "so that" etc. I just cannot get my head around why it is the city that could start negotiations, but not the citizens? Citizens are people, who have ability to take the action, but the city itself, not its council or mayor, cannot take any action, can't it?
Could you please point me to a discussion or link where i could find out about proper choosing the proper subject in such cases? Thank you!
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Divyadisha
AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

Meaning of the sentence is that a group of citizens are voiding long-term waste-removal contract so that the contract can be open for competitive bidding.

I might have knocked choice 'C' for wrong reasons. Can anyone please advise?

Please let me know how a 'CITY' can open something. That's why I went for option 'C' rather 'D'.
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Abhishek009
AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process
(B)and so the process could be opened
(C)to open the process
(D)so that the city could open the process
(E)in order that they could open the process

So that = Answers the question why ....

The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so that the city could open the process to competitive bidding.

Q. Why was the long-term waste-removal contract voided ?
A . To open the process to competitive bidding.

Hi Abhishek009 ,

How could city, a non-living thing, be the doer of an action?
I would have chosen D over C if D had "the council" instead of "the city".
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AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process
(B)and so the process could be opened
(C)to open the process
(D)so that the city could open the process
(E)in order that they could open the process

The correct answer is C.

A. Incorrect idiom. Needs to be simply "so [the process would be opened]" or "to"
B. Incorrect idiom "and so"; it should be simply "so."
D. Incorrect idiom "so that."
E. Change of meaning; "they" indicates the concerned citizens would open the process. Incorrect idiom "in order that" versus "in order to."
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S2GGMAT
Divyadisha
AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process
(B)and so the process could be opened
(C)to open the process
(D)so that the city could open the process
(E)in order that they could open the process

Meaning of the sentence is that a group of citizens are voiding long-term waste-removal contract so that the contract can be open for competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process 'so as' is not the right idiom
(B)and so the process could be opened 'and' indicates some parallal elements, which are not there in the sentence
(C)to open the process. I really had hard time knocking this off. But, it has lot of 'to' in it.
(D)so that the city could open the process. Clear meaning
(E)in order that they could open the process 'in order that' is not right idiom

I might have knocked choice 'C' for wrong reasons. Can anyone please advise?

In Option C, It implies that the action "open" is done by the private group ,but actually it is done by The City. So option C is wrong.


so as to is idiomatic, here in option A this usage creates an ambiguity in the meaning, option D shows the intended meaning, In A it would mean that the private group private group open the process instead of city
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This may be semantics, but shouldn't it be would instead of could? If another group is initiating the process, it implies that the city doesn't want to do so. If the city itself did it so that they could open up the process it would be entirely different.
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AbdurRakib
The private group of concerned citizens sought to have the city's long-term waste-removal contract voided so as to open the process to competitive bidding.

(A)so as to open the process meaning issue, the private group sought <something> to in order to <get_something_done> not to do something themselves.

(B)and so the process could be opened and is a marker of parallelism but clearly it is not required here.

(C)to open the process same error as in option A

(D)so that the city could open the process correct, the private group wanted the city to open the process for bidding.
(E)in order that they could open the process in order that is a wrong idiom

Hope it helps, please highlight if there are any gaps in my understanding
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