Which of the following sugars is found in RNA?

Ribose is the sugar that is found in RNA (ribonucleic acid) and serves as a fundamental component of the RNA structure. In RNA, ribose has a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to the 2' carbon atom, which is crucial for the molecule's reactivity and stability. This is in contrast to DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which contains deoxyribose, a sugar that lacks the hydroxyl group at the 2' position, resulting in differing properties and functions between RNA and DNA.

The presence of ribose distinguishes RNA from other molecules like glucose and fructose, which are not part of the RNA backbone. Glucose is primarily used by cells for energy, while fructose is a simple sugar found in many plants but does not play a role in the structure of RNA. Thus, ribose's unique features and its location in the RNA structure make it the correct choice in this context.