The answer is "B." This is a an adjective describing a condition or a state of being.
This is a word describing something bad that is being or has been experienced to the maximum degree. It also describes a situation or condition that is extremely unpleasant and degrading.
In this sentence, the word "abject" is the best choice because it is giving a candid description of something or a situation or a condition that is bad, unpleasant and degrading. This bad condition or situation is poverty.