Select the figure that will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following figure series.

To find the correct figure that replaces the question mark (?), we can analyze the two main components of the series: the central star and the letters in the corners.

1. Analysis of the Central Star Shape:
- Number of points: The number of points on the star increases by 1 in each step of the series:
- Box 1: 4-pointed star
- Box 2: 5-pointed star
- Box 3: 6-pointed star
- Box 4: 7-pointed star
- Box 5 (?): Must contain an 8-pointed star.
- Shading: The shading of the star alternates between filled (black) and empty (white):
- Box 1: Filled (Black)
- Box 2: Empty (White)
- Box 3: Filled (Black)
- Box 4: Empty (White)
- Box 5 (?): Must be Filled (Black).

2. Analysis of the Letters in the Corners:
In each transition, one letter from the previous box is retained and moves to a new position, while a new letter is introduced in alphabetical order.
- Movement of the retained letter:
- From Box 1 to Box 2: The letter 'B' moves from the bottom-right corner to the top-right corner (shifts UP).
- From Box 2 to Box 3: The letter 'C' moves from the bottom-left corner to the bottom-right corner (shifts RIGHT).
- From Box 3 to Box 4: The letter 'D' moves from the top-left corner to the bottom-left corner (shifts DOWN).
- From Box 4 to Box 5: Following the counter-clockwise directional cycle (UP → RIGHT → DOWN → LEFT), the letter 'E' must move from the top-right corner to the top-left corner (shifts LEFT).
- Placement of the new letter:
- In Box 2, the new letter 'C' is introduced at the bottom-left corner.
- In Box 3, the new letter 'D' is introduced at the top-left corner.
- In Box 4, the new letter 'E' is introduced at the top-right corner.
- Following the clockwise rotation of the entry positions (bottom-left → top-left → top-right → bottom-right), the next alphabetical letter 'F' must be introduced at the bottom-right corner in Box 5.

Thus, the final figure must have:
- The letter 'E' in the top-left corner.
- The letter 'F' in the bottom-right corner.
- A filled (black) 8-pointed star in the center.

This corresponds exactly to the figure in Option 4.