In order to evenly and effectively paint a rough surface, it

Question

In order to evenly and effectively paint a rough surface, it is necessary to sand  it and apply primer before applying the paint.  
(A) it and apply primer before applying the paint 
(B) it and prime it and paint it 
(C) it, then prime it, then paint it 
(D) the surface and apply primer before you 
apply paint to the surface 
(E) the surface, apply primer to the surface and then paint it

humans · Answer

Although may seems weird to me but this time I will go with the longest answer choice D.

smashingpumpkins · Answer

Even i thought that the answer would be 'D' but found that the answer is 'A'..(The document doesnt provide an explanantion).

４． In order to evenly and effectively paint a rough surface, it is necessary to sand  it and apply primer before applying the paint.  (A) it and apply primer before applying the paint 
(B) it and prime it and paint it - Doesnt sound logical
(C) it, then prime it, then paint it - Doesnt sound logical
(D) the surface and apply primer before you 
apply paint to the surface - the word surface is repetetive.
(E) the surface, apply primer to the surface and then paint it - the word 'surface is repetetive'.

The answer choice 'A' seems to be concise and clear. Do you have any other thoughts.

bigoyal · Answer

I'll vote for A

(B) it and prime it and paint it  - repeated use of "and"  
(C) it, then prime it, then paint it  - repeated use of "then"  
(D) the surface and apply primer before you apply paint to the surface  -no need to refer to "surface" again and again. Here "it" would be sufficient to refer to surface, as there is no other subject in the correct part of sentence. "Paint" is not a subject here, but is rather a verb. 
(E) the surface, apply primer to the surface and then paint it  -same as D

humans · Answer

"It" in A doesn't have clear precedent, IMHO "it" can refer to both paint and rough surface.

May be "Paint" is not a subject here, to me question was ambiguous.

To sanoasis, What is source of this Question?

bigoyal · Answer

Paint is a verb here, as its denoting an action. "it" cannot refer to "paint". The only other subject left is "surface".
Suppose the sentence had been something like - "Before painting a rough surface, it is necessary to sand it ....."

chill · Answer

IMO A...
D is wordy and unnecessary repeats the subject.
A is concise and clear....
BTW it refers to surface and not pain as paint is a verb

rs2010 · Answer

Since we are already starting with paint so lets remove the choices that have paint it in the end. Out of A n D, A is less wordy and lets have it as our Answer

In order to evenly and effectively paint a rough surface, it

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