The verb excerpt comes from the Latin word <em>excerptus</em> which means to "pluck out, pick out, extract." The noun excerpt comes from the Latin word <em>excerptum </em>which means "an extract, selection."
The reader is introduced to the marlin because Santiago sees one of the projecting sticks dip in the water (B).
In <em>The Old Man and the Sea</em>, the main character becomes aware of the presence of the marlin when he realizes something is tugging at his hundred-fathom-deep fishing line. Because of the strength of the bite, the stick to which the line is attached is pulled into the water. Santiago immediately recognizes the fish as being a large marlin.
The correct answer is D, this is 'present perfect' tense. It is formed with the use of the verb HAVE in present simple tense (so, HAVE/HAS), and the past participle of a verb (or the third column of irregular verbs).
A cannot be correct, because then it would say - I hear.
B cannot be correct, because then it would say - I had heard.
C cannot be correct, because then it would say - I heard.
And since there is also HAVE HEARD, the correct answer has to be D.
