OE


The lifestyles described here are clearly ostentatious, though that is not one of the options. We must look, then, for a synonym for ostentatious. Refulgent (A), meaning gleaming or radiant is a good match for ostentatious as both denote notable radiance or opulence. Austere (B), on the other hand, means severe, somber, self-disciplined and is clearly the antithesis of the word needed here. Laudable (C) can hardly apply as the passage makes clear that the lives depicted are not laudable or praiseworthy. Monotonous (D) must be eliminated because there is no indication that the stars' lifestyles are repetitive and boring. Option E must be eliminated as the passage does not support the idea that the stars' lives are sanctimonious or hypocritically pious. Option A, refulgent, is the correct answer.