Select the number from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.
1, 5, 10, 23, 63, 167, ?

Let's find the step differences between the terms:
5−1=4

10−5=5

23−10=13

63−23=40

167−63=104

Now let's examine the sequence of differences: 4,5,13,40,104
Let's find the second-level differences:

5−4=1=1
3


13−5=8=2
3


40−13=27=3
3


104−40=64=4
3


Following this logic, the next second-level difference must be 5
3
=125.
The next first-level difference will be 104+125=229.
Therefore, the missing number is 167+229=396.