Publicis Groupe, a leading advertising agency, __________ that it will not participate in any award shows, drop promotional activities for one year, and instead, spend monies on developing an AI -powered professional assistant, Marcel. The decision _________ many eyebrows in the industry but Mark Tutssel, chairman says, “awards are the barometer of our health. So, we would never ever walk away from them. That is _________ to even think.

• A. proclaimed heaved ludicrous
• B. declared, hoisted, amazing
• C. decreed, lifted, indignant
• D. announced, raised, farcical
• E. asserted, lowered, embarrassing