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.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: but

Explanation:

Given data

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

Concept/Approach
We need a contrasting coordinator: “but.”

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

Final Answer
but

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