Final answer:
An operation like an appendectomy is an example of a good with a highly inelastic demand curve due to its nature as a necessary medical procedure with no close substitutes.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of a good or service that probably has a highly inelastic demand curve is an operation such as an appendectomy. This is because life-saving medical procedures are a necessity with no close substitutes, and the quantity demanded remains constant despite changes in price. Luxury items, on the other hand, such as sports cars, non-essential fashion items like designer jeans or a new sweater, or entertainment goods like a CD, typically have more elastic demand curves as they are non-essential and have many substitutes.
While perfectly inelastic demand is an extreme case, it's applicable to essentials that are crucial for survival or well-being, such as life-saving drugs and gasoline. These goods and services demonstrate high inelasticity because consumers will purchase them regardless of price changes. In contrast, items that are not necessities, like luxury goods or goods with many substitutes, tend to exhibit highly elastic demand curves.