Final answer:
The access modifier in a method definition determines its visibility and can be private or public. It must agree with the type of the return value.
Step-by-step explanation:
The access modifier in a method definition is used to specify the level of access or visibility that the method has. In Java, the accessModifier can be one of several choices, including private and public. It can also be omitted, but if it is not omitted, it must be either private or public. The access modifier determines who can invoke or access the method.
For example, if a method is declared as public, it can be accessed by any other class in the same package or even by classes in different packages. On the other hand, if a method is declared as private, it can only be accessed within the same class and is not visible to other classes.
It is important to choose an appropriate access modifier based on the intended visibility and accessibility of the method. The access modifier must agree with the type of the return value, so option (d) is the correct statement.