A database administrator is writing code to ask the database a question. Which of the following is the administrator doing?

Manipulating data involves inserting, updating, or deleting records, which is a different operation from merely asking a question to retrieve data.

Mining data is the process of discovering patterns and insights from large datasets, which is a more complex analytical process than simply asking a question.

When a database administrator writes code to "ask the database a question," they are creating a query. A query is a request for data or information from a database, often using a language like SQL, to retrieve specific records or perform calculations.

Making a report involves presenting retrieved data in a structured and formatted way, which typically comes after querying the database, but is not the act of asking the database a question itself.