Continuing the same passage on democracy, choose the word that best completes the phrase 'It should also aim at the _____ good' in the expression about serving the greatest number.

Introduction / Context:
This cloze test sentence is part of a famous political principle often quoted in discussions of democracy: 'the greatest good of the greatest number'. The line in the passage says, 'It should also aim at the _____ good of the greatest _____." Here you must supply the adjective that completes 'the _____ good' in a way that matches this well-known phrase and the overall sense of democratic welfare.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Fragment: 'It should also aim at the _____ good of the greatest _____.'
- Current blank: 'It should also aim at the _____ good'. Options: 'greatest', 'smallest', 'largest', 'heaviest'.
- The passage discusses democracy seeking welfare for the maximum number of people.

Concept / Approach:
The utilitarian phrase 'the greatest good of the greatest number' is a standard formula in political science and ethics. The first blank is almost always filled with 'greatest', not 'largest' or any other adjective. 'Greatest good' means the maximum welfare or benefit. 'Largest' usually applies to size or number, 'heaviest' to weight, and 'smallest' is obviously the opposite of what is intended here. Recognising this fixed expression leads you directly to the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the full phrase from civics or ethics: 'the greatest good of the greatest number'. Step 2: Compare 'greatest good' and 'largest good'. 'Greatest good' is the standard, idiomatic expression. Step 3: Rule out 'smallest' because democracy certainly does not aim at the smallest good. Step 4: Rule out 'heaviest' because weight is not logically connected with moral or social good. Step 5: Select 'greatest' to make the phrase match the famous formulation.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the sentence with each option: 'It should also aim at the greatest good of the greatest number.' This sounds exactly right and agrees with common textbook language. 'It should also aim at the largest good of the greatest number' sounds unnatural and is not the recognised philosophical phrase. 'Smallest good' contradicts the idea of democracy aiming at maximum welfare, and 'heaviest good' is meaningless in this context. Therefore 'greatest' is clearly the required word.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
'Smallest' is wrong because it implies minimal benefit, which goes against the idea of maximising welfare. 'Largest' is wrong because while it can describe quantity or size, it is not the accepted collocation with 'good' in moral or political theory. 'Heaviest' is wrong because it refers to weight or seriousness in physical or metaphorical terms, not the extent of welfare. Only 'greatest' fits both the idiomatic phrase and the intended message about democratic goals.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes candidates overthink and choose 'largest', thinking of numbers or population size, especially because the next word in the phrase is 'number'. However, the key is to recognise that this is a standard philosophical expression. Learning such fixed phrases from civics and political science helps you answer cloze tests quickly and confidently without being distracted by near-synonyms like 'largest'.

Final Answer:
The correct word to fill the blank is greatest, giving 'the greatest good of the greatest number'.