In the same passage on economic slowdown, choose the correct connector to fill the blank: 'the government is apparently unable ________ unwilling to increase public spending…'

Introduction / Context:
This cloze question focuses on conjunctions and logical connectors. The passage comments that 'the government is apparently unable ________ unwilling to increase public spending'. We must choose a connector that accurately joins two alternatives about the government's attitude: it may be unable or it may be unwilling. Understanding how 'or', 'nor', 'but', and other conjunctions function in English sentences is essential for solving such problems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Fragment: 'the government is apparently unable ________ unwilling to increase public spending'.
Options: hence, but, or, nor.
We know 'unable' and 'unwilling' are two different possible reasons for inaction.
We assume the sentence intends to present those as alternatives, not as contrasts or negatives in a pair with 'neither'.

Concept / Approach:
We must identify the conjunction that correctly links two adjectives ('unable' and 'unwilling') in a compound predicate. The pattern 'unable or unwilling' is a standard English expression meaning 'either not capable or not willing'. 'Or' is the normal conjunction for alternatives. 'But' indicates contrast, which is not the intended relationship here. 'Nor' is usually used with 'neither' ('neither able nor willing'), and 'hence' introduces a result, not a second descriptive adjective. Thus, 'or' is the only conjunction that fits grammatically and logically.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the author is presenting two possible explanations: the government may lack capacity (unable) or may lack the will (unwilling). Step 2: Observe that in English, alternatives are normally expressed with 'or': 'unable or unwilling'. Step 3: Check 'or': 'the government is apparently unable or unwilling to increase public spending' is perfectly natural and idiomatic. Step 4: Check 'but': 'unable but unwilling' is illogical, as 'but' suggests contrast rather than alternatives. Step 5: Check 'nor': it typically follows 'neither', as in 'neither able nor willing', which is not present here, so 'nor' would be ungrammatical. Step 6: Check 'hence': it introduces conclusions ('hence, the government...') and cannot be placed between two adjectives like this. Step 7: Conclude that 'or' correctly completes the phrase.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by recalling common phrases used in newspapers and analytical writing: 'unable or unwilling to act' is a standard formulation used when a writer is unsure whether inaction is caused by incapacity or by lack of political will. Trying to substitute 'but', 'nor', or 'hence' would either break grammar or change the meaning. In particular, 'neither able nor willing' is acceptable, but that is a different structure from the one used in the passage. The exact pattern given in the question matches 'unable or unwilling'.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
'But' introduces a contrast, as in 'willing but unable', which is not what the sentence wants to say; here, the two adjectives are similar in negative tone, not contrasting. 'Nor' normally pairs with 'neither' and cannot stand alone between two adjectives without it. 'Hence' is an adverb showing consequence or result, and it does not fit grammatically between two adjectives. Therefore, using any of these would produce an incorrect or unidiomatic sentence.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students might be tempted to choose 'nor' simply because it is less familiar and seems more 'exam-like'. Others might think that because the overall idea is negative, 'nor' is suitable. However, good grammar requires the correct pattern 'neither … nor' for that to work. The safest approach is to look at the structure that directly precedes the blank and ask what the second word is doing: here it links two alternative adjectives, so 'or' is the natural conjunction.

Final Answer:
The correct connector is 'or', giving the phrase 'unable or unwilling'.