Read the passage carefully and then choose the correct word to fill the blank in the sentence: “__________ elusive is ‘good policing’, an idea that even the best of criminal justice thinkers have found difficult to define.” Select the alternative that completes the sentence in the most natural and meaningful way.

Introduction / Context:
This question is based on a passage about the concept of an ideal policeman and the difficulty of defining “good policing”. The blank tests your understanding of adverbs that modify adjectives and entire ideas, and your ability to recognise an idiomatic, natural sounding phrase in English. The exam expects you to select the word that correctly compares the elusiveness of “good policing” with something mentioned earlier, namely the mythical ideal policeman.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence is “__________ elusive is ‘good policing’, an idea that even the best of criminal justice thinkers have found difficult to define.”
• The options are “Fairly”, “Justly”, “Equally”, and “Uniformly”.
• In the earlier line, the passage states that an ideal policeman is a myth.
• The writer now wants to say that “good policing” is just as elusive as the mythical ideal policeman.

Concept / Approach:
The structure “Equally + adjective” is commonly used in English to express that two things share the same quality to the same degree. Here, the quality is “elusive”. The passage contrasts myth and reality and stresses that defining “good policing” is as difficult as encountering an ideal policeman. Therefore, the adverb that maintains this parallel and comparative sense is “Equally”. The other adverbs do not correctly convey that comparison and sound awkward in this particular sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that “elusive” is an adjective that needs an adverb to show degree or comparison. Step 2: “Fairly elusive is ‘good policing’” is grammatically possible, but “fairly” means “moderately”, which weakens the strong point being made by the author. Step 3: “Justly elusive is ‘good policing’” is awkward. “Justly” means “in a fair or morally right manner”, which does not logically modify “elusive”. Step 4: “Equally elusive is ‘good policing’” fits perfectly. It suggests that good policing is elusive to the same extent as the mythical ideal policeman mentioned in the previous sentence. Step 5: “Uniformly elusive is ‘good policing’” means “elusive in the same way everywhere”, which does not align with the intended comparison to the earlier idea. Step 6: Based on both grammar and meaning, select “Equally” as the best fit.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rewriting the sentence in a more linear fashion can help: “Good policing is equally elusive, an idea that even the best criminal justice thinkers find difficult to define.” This clearly shows the comparison between “good policing” and the ideal policeman earlier. The adverb “equally” naturally introduces this comparative relationship and is widely used in formal and informal English in this way.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Fairly: Indicates moderate degree, which weakens the emphasis on difficulty and does not capture the comparison with the earlier mythical policeman.
• Justly: Refers to fairness or moral rightness, and does not sensibly modify “elusive”. Something cannot be “justly elusive” in standard usage.
• Uniformly: Means “in the same way everywhere” and does not express similarity in degree between two specific ideas; it changes the nuance of the sentence.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates are tempted by words like “fairly” because they are familiar, or by “uniformly” because it sounds formal. However, cloze tests often hinge on the specific relationship between sentences. Here the key relationship is comparison, so an adverb that explicitly expresses equality of degree is required. Ignoring this link to the previous sentence can easily lead to a wrong answer.

Final Answer:
The correct word to complete the sentence is Equally, giving “Equally elusive is ‘good policing’, an idea that even the best of criminal justice thinkers have found difficult to define.”