Coordinating conjunctions (contrast): Choose the word that best completes the sentence “The machine is difficult to build ______ easy to maintain.” Select the conjunction that correctly expresses contrast.

Given data

• Two coordinated clauses: “difficult to build” vs. “easy to maintain.”

Concept/ApproachWe need a contrasting coordinator: “but.”

Option analysisbut — expresses contrast.and — adds, no contrast.for — causal/explanatory, not contrast.if — conditional, not coordination.

Final Answerbut