Why does a heavy object require a larger amount of force than a light object to get it moving?

The best answer is "3" because the question is geared toward the concept of inertia. A heavy, dense object possesses more inertia and requires a greater amount of force to accelerate it than an object that is less dense. Think of the difference between a basketball and a bowling ball. The bowling ball has more mass and requires greater force to move it along.