Explanation
Correct answer: A.
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense in a sentence. In this choice, the present tense verb "goes" is consistent with the other present tense verbs ("appears" and "symbolizes") used to describe the tortoise in Stoppard’s play. Furthermore, it’s conventional to use the present tense when discussing a literary work.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice B
Choice B is incorrect because the future perfect tense verb "will have gone" isn’t consistent with the other present tense verbs used to describe the tortoise in Stoppard’s play.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because the past tense verb "went" isn’t consistent with the other present tense verbs used to describe the tortoise in Stoppard’s play.
Choice D
Choice D is incorrect because the past perfect tense verb "had gone" isn’t consistent with the other present tense verbs used to describe the tortoise in Stoppard’s play.