IMO A.
BC are awkward.
E doesnt use pronoun even in the latter part of sentence. Hence wordy.
D shiofts from active to passive unnecessarily.

gmat_perfect wrote: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

IMO E

gmat_perfect wrote: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

IMO A.
B and C are plain awkard.
While D and E are unnecessarily using 'the surface' instead of 'it', which 'it' correctly refers to noun 'surface'.

Hi,
If "it" refers to surface....
then "A" means "surface is necessary to sand surface" it.....it.
is it rt ?
What s the OA ?

gmat_perfect wrote: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

A/B/C - it has no clear referent - ot can refer back to the "surface" or "paint" itself.

D vs E

D - wordy
E - looks parallel, concise and correct

Whats the OA?

Yossarian wrote:

gmat_perfect wrote: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

A/B/C - it has no clear referent - ot can refer back to the "surface" or "paint" itself.

D vs E

D - wordy
E - looks parallel, concise and correct

Whats the OA?

Just see the following sentences:

In order to write a good book, one must collect relevant data and then one must go to write it.

---> Since The first part of the sentence has already mentioned "to write", the repeat of "write" at the end is NOT required.

The same deal here.

BCE are out for using "paint it" at the end of the sentence.

D is simply redundant.

Answer is A.

wrote: In order to evenly and effectively paint a rough surface, it is necessary to sand it and apply primer before applying the paint.

Yep...Got to be A..

I think the statement appears to be confusing because it is not immediately clear what "it" refers back to (paint or surface)..
However, in the given statement, paint is being used as a verb and not as a noun... "to evenly and effectively paint"..The only noun is "surface" and hence "it" can only refer back to "surface"..

Everything else is grammatically correct in this option..

Cheers!!