Material Loss Contingencies Should Be Recorded in the Financial Statements

question 44

Multiple Choice

Material loss contingencies should be recorded in the financial statements if available information indicates it is probable that a loss had been sustained prior to the balance sheet date and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. These considerations will affect the audit report as follows:

• A) If a loss has been recorded in accordance with these criteria, the auditor may issue an unqualified opinion but is required to point out the contingency in an explanatory paragraph of the report.
• B) If a loss meets these criteria but is disclosed in the financial statement notes rather than being recorded therein, the auditor may issue an unqualified opinion, but is required to point out the contingency in an explanatory paragraph of the report.
• C) If a loss meets these criteria but is disclosed in the financial statement notes rather than being recorded therein, the auditor may issue an unqualified opinion, but should consider adding an explanatory paragraph as a means of emphasizing the disclosure.
• D) If a loss is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated and is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements rather than being recorded therein, the auditor may issue an unqualified opinion.

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Definitions:

Secondary Reinforcer

A stimulus that has become rewarding through its association with a primary reinforcer, which satisfies basic biological needs.

Primary Reinforcer

A stimulus that is naturally reinforcing for a given species, such as food, water, or physical comfort, which does not require learning to be effective.

Skinner Box

An experimental apparatus used in the behavioral study of animals, named after B.F. Skinner, to study operant conditioning.

Shaping

A method of behavior training in which successive approximations toward a desired behavior are reinforced.