Pass the WGU Courses and Certificates Accounting-for-Decision-Makers Questions and answers with Dumpstech

The best answer is B. Liability deferral . Among the choices provided, this is the only option that relates to a liability-based arrangement in which an obligation is incurred and then settled over time. In accounting, debt that is taken on and repaid through scheduled installments is generally treated as a liability until it is extinguished through repayment. Repaying principal over time is commonly described in finance as amortization of debt principal , meaning the borrower fully pays the debt in installments over a period of time.

The other options do not fit this meaning. Income smoothing refers to managing the pattern of reported earnings to reduce fluctuations between periods, not simply borrowing and repaying debt. “Profit control” and “accounting management” are not standard terms for the repayment of debt over time in basic accounting frameworks. Because the question asks for the option that best matches the idea of incurring debt and then paying it off over time, Liability deferral is the most appropriate answer from the choices given, even though “debt amortization” would be the more standard term in practice.

The correct answer is B . Section 201 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related SEC rules prohibit registered public accounting firms from providing certain nonaudit services to their audit clients because those services could impair auditor independence. The SEC’s rulemaking specifically identifies prohibited services, including internal audit outsourcing , among other restricted nonaudit services.

Option A is incorrect because SOX requires lead audit partner rotation , not mandatory rotation of the entire audit firm after five years. Option C is incorrect because SOX does not impose a blanket ban on advertising by audit firms. Option D is also incorrect because while the audit committee, not management alone, plays a central role in hiring and overseeing the external auditor, the statement as written is not the key audit-firm requirement highlighted by SOX in this context. The most specific and widely tested SOX requirement here is the prohibition on certain nonaudit services to audit clients. This rule protects objectivity by preventing the auditor from effectively reviewing its own consulting or internal audit work. Therefore, Option B is correct.

The correct answer is C . Activity-based costing (ABC) is generally more precise than traditional costing when a company makes multiple products that consume overhead resources differently. ABC assigns overhead by identifying activities and using multiple cost drivers that better reflect how products actually use resources. Sources on ABC explain that it improves cost accuracy compared with traditional systems, especially in more complex production environments.

Option A is incorrect because the statement is reversed. Traditional costing often uses a single volume-based driver such as labor hours or machine hours, while ABC commonly uses multiple cost drivers . Option B is incorrect because ABC is usually more time-consuming and expensive to administer, not less. Option D is also incorrect because ABC is especially useful when products are heterogeneous , meaning they differ in the amount and type of overhead resources they consume. Therefore, the key difference is that ABC gives a more precise assignment of overhead costs than traditional costing when multiple products are produced. That makes Option C the correct answer.

The best answer is D. 275 . In a cost-volume-profit (CVP) graph , a company begins to realize a profit only after total revenue rises above total cost. The point where the total revenue line intersects the total cost line is the break-even point . At that exact level, profit is zero. To earn a profit, the company must sell more units than the break-even amount .

Because your pasted graph is partially distorted, the most reasonable interpretation is that the break-even point is shown at about 250 units . If that is the break-even level, then the first answer choice that would produce an actual profit is 275 units . That is why Option D is the most defensible answer from the graph and choices provided.

This follows basic CVP logic:

Below break-even = loss

At break-even = zero profit

Above break-even = profit

So if 250 units represents the break-even point on the graph, the company would need to sell 275 units to realize a profit. Therefore, the best answer is D .

The correct answer is D. 6,000 . This is a standard cost-volume-profit (CVP) and break-even question. The break-even point in units is calculated by dividing total fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit .

First, compute contribution margin per widget:

Contribution margin per unit = Selling price - Variable cost

= $100 - $50 = $50

Now apply the break-even formula:

Break-even units = Fixed costs / Contribution margin per unit

= $300,000 / $50 = 6,000 widgets

This means the company must sell 6,000 widgets each month to generate enough contribution margin to cover all fixed costs. At that point, profit is zero, which is exactly what break-even means. If it sells more than 6,000 units, it earns a profit. If it sells fewer than 6,000, it incurs a loss.

The other choices are incorrect because they do not fully cover the fixed-cost amount using the $50 contribution margin per unit. Therefore, the correct break-even sales volume is 6,000 widgets , which makes Option D correct.

The correct answer is B. Cash payments for administration expenses . Under U.S. GAAP, operating activities include cash effects of transactions that enter into the determination of net income, such as cash paid to employees, suppliers, and for other routine operating expenses. FASB’s statement on cash flows requires cash receipts and payments to be classified as operating, investing, or financing and defines operating activities as the residual category for the entity’s normal revenue-producing activities. OpenStax also describes operating activities as the day-to-day cash flows of the business.

Option A is incorrect because selling a business segment is generally an investing activity , not an operating one. Option C is incorrect because purchasing plant assets is also an investing cash outflow . Option D is incorrect because cash received from selling plant assets is an investing cash inflow . Administrative expenses are part of normal operations, so cash paid for them belongs in operating activities. Therefore, among the options provided, Cash payments for administration expenses is the only item properly classified as an operating activity under U.S. GAAP.

The correct answer is C. In October and November . Under accrual accounting and modern revenue recognition guidance, revenue is recognized when the company satisfies its performance obligations, not merely when cash is received. For an airline ticket, the airline earns the revenue by providing transportation . SEC disclosures from airlines state that passenger revenue is deferred until transportation is provided, and revenue recognition guidance under Topic 606 also requires recognition when control of the promised service transfers to the customer.

Because this is a round-trip ticket , the airline has not fully earned the revenue in September when the cash is collected. Instead, the service is performed in parts: one flight in October and the return flight in November . Therefore, the revenue should be recognized as the transportation service is delivered across those two months. Option A is incorrect because September is only the cash receipt date, not the service date. Option B is incorrect because part of the service is provided in October. Option D is incorrect because collecting cash alone does not create earned revenue under accrual accounting. Therefore, October and November is the correct answer.

The correct answer is A. Use an objective advisor confidentially . The IMA Statement of Ethical Professional Practice includes guidance for resolving ethical conflict and notes that management accountants may wish to discuss the matter with an objective advisor to obtain a better understanding of possible courses of action. This step is intended to help the accountant evaluate the issue carefully while preserving confidentiality and professionalism.

Option B is not the best answer because going directly to the chief executive officer is not always the first or most appropriate step. Ethical conflict guidance usually recommends following the organization’s established chain of command unless the issue involves that level of management. Option C is incorrect because discussing the issue with “any stakeholder” could violate confidentiality. Option D is also weaker because consulting a coworker is not the same as seeking advice from an objective and appropriate advisor. The emphasis in professional ethics guidance is on confidentiality, sound judgment, and proper escalation. Therefore, the most suitable action among the options given is to use an objective advisor confidentially , making Option A correct.

The correct answer is A. Cash . In the traditional ordering of current assets on a U.S. balance sheet, accounts are typically listed in order of liquidity , meaning how quickly they can be converted into cash or used. Cash is already the most liquid asset, so it normally appears first. After cash, companies usually list items such as marketable securities, accounts receivable, inventory, and prepaid expenses. OpenStax identifies cash among the standard examples of assets and discusses current assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, and prepaid items.

Option B, inventory , is incorrect because inventory is less liquid than cash and receivables. Option C, accounts receivable , is also incorrect because receivables are expected to become cash, but they are not cash itself. Option D, prepaid expenses , typically appear later because they do not convert into cash; instead, they provide future benefits through services or coverage already paid for. In U.S. practice, the standard presentation begins with the most liquid current asset, which is cash. Therefore, among the choices provided, Cash is the correct answer.

The correct answer is A. $20,000 . First, calculate net profit before the commission:

Net profit = Sales - Total expenses = $500,000 - $300,000 = $200,000

The manager’s commission is 10% of net profit , so:

Commission = 10% × $200,000 = $20,000

Therefore, the amount to recognize at year-end is $20,000 . Under accrual accounting, expenses are recognized in the period in which they are incurred, even if they have not yet been paid. Since the company earned the profit during the year and the manager became entitled to the commission based on that profit, the commission expense should be recorded at year-end in the same reporting period. This follows the matching concept, which aligns expenses with the revenues they helped generate.

Option B is incorrect because it represents 10% of sales, not net profit. Option C and Option D do not match the 10% commission calculation based on the stated profit amount. Since the problem clearly says the commission is based on net profit , the correct recognized amount is $20,000 , making Option A correct. Accounting texts describe net profit as revenues minus expenses.