Which statement is used to read a single row from a database table?

The statement used to read a single row from a database table is the one that begins with the phrase "SELECT SINGLE." This command is specifically designed to fetch a single record from a database table based on certain criteria. When you use "SELECT SINGLE," the database system optimizes the query to return only one row, and it will stop executing further once it finds that row that matches the specified conditions. This is particularly efficient for use cases where you require precise control over the data retrieval process, resulting in improved performance as it minimizes the data fetched.

The other options serve different purposes. For instance, using just "SELECT" retrieves multiple rows that match the query criteria, which is not what is needed when only a single row is desired. The "READ TABLE" statement is typically used with internal tables in ABAP rather than for directly interacting with database tables. Specifically, "READ TABLE" can look up values in an internal table using various methods, such as the specified table key, but it does not directly fetch records from a database table as "SELECT SINGLE" does. Therefore, the functionality and context of accessing data differentiate the selected answer as the correct choice.