Final answer:
Application programs are used to read, insert, modify, and delete data in a database management system (DBMS).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is D) Application programs. Application programs are used to read, insert, modify, and delete data in a database management system (DBMS). DBMS applications, on the other hand, are software programs that allow users to interact with databases and perform various tasks, such as creating, retrieving, updating, and deleting data.