Question

How does the work needed to lift an object and the gravitational potential energy of the object compare?

They are equal.
The work is greater.
The work is less.
The comparison depends on the height.

Answer 1

They are equal — if you lift an object slowly (no net acceleration) and ignore non‑conservative losses, the work you do against gravity is W = F·h = mg·h, which equals the increase in gravitational potential energy ΔU = mg·h. (If you accelerate the object or there are other forces like friction/air resistance, extra work goes into kinetic energy or is dissipated, so they need not be equal.)