Final answer:
The correct answer is option a. ATP is the molecule that provides quick energy to cells, serving as the energy currency due to high-energy phosphate bonds whose cleavage releases energy utilized for cellular processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound responsible for providing the cell with quick energy is adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. ATP is known as the energy currency of the cell because it contains high-energy phosphate bonds that, when broken, release free energy that can be used to power various cellular activities.
Glucose is the primary molecule broken down through metabolic pathways to produce ATP, particularly during the process of cellular respiration. While other compounds such as DNA, oxygen, and glucose are significantly involved in energy production and cellular processes, ATP is the direct molecule that provides the immediate source of energy for cells.