Accountancy MCQs
Topic Notes: Accountancy
General Description
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
101
Under which accounting principle is the proprietor considered a creditor to the business for the capital invested?
Answer:
Business entity Concept
The Business Entity Concept states that a business and its owner are separate legal and accounting entities. Consequently, capital invested by the owner is treated as a liability of the business to the owner. This separation ensures that the personal financial affairs of the proprietor are not mixed with the financial transactions of the business entity.
102
What is the fundamental objective of the prudence (conservatism) concept in accounting?
Answer:
accounts should provide for all probable losses and should not anticipate profits
The prudence concept dictates that accountants should exercise caution when preparing financial statements. It requires that all foreseeable losses and liabilities be recognized immediately, while profits should only be recognized when they are realized, ensuring that assets and income are not overstated.
103
What is the nature of the financial statements prepared by a business entity?
Answer:
Tentative in nature
Financial statements are considered tentative because they rely on various estimates, judgments, and accounting policies (such as depreciation methods or provision for bad debts). While they provide a structured view of financial performance, they are not absolute facts and are subject to the limitations of the accounting period concept and the specific conventions applied during their preparation.
104
Why is the provision for discount on creditors generally not recorded in financial statements?
Answer:
Conservatism
The principle of conservatism (or prudence) dictates that anticipated losses should be provided for, but anticipated gains should not be recognized until realized. Since a discount on creditors is an anticipated gain, recording a provision for it would violate this principle, as it would artificially inflate the net profit.
105
Which accounting principle dictates that only transactions expressible in monetary terms are recorded in the books of accounts?
Answer:
Money measurement concept
The money measurement concept states that only those transactions and events that can be expressed in terms of money are recorded in the books of accounts. Qualitative factors, even if significant to the business, are excluded if they cannot be quantified in monetary units, ensuring uniformity and objectivity in financial reporting.
106
Which type of budget remains active and updated for a specified future period on an ongoing basis?
Answer:
continuous budget
A continuous budget, often called a rolling budget, is a financial plan that is constantly updated by adding a new period as the current one expires. This ensures that the organization always has a budget covering a fixed future timeframe, allowing for better adaptability to changing market conditions and more precise financial control.
107
Accounting principles are broadly categorized into which two primary classifications?
Answer:
Both A and B
Accounting principles are the fundamental rules that guide the preparation of financial statements. They are generally divided into 'Accounting Concepts' (the basic assumptions or postulates like Going Concern or Accrual) and 'Accounting Conventions' (customs or traditions adopted by accountants, such as Conservatism or Consistency) to ensure uniformity and comparability in financial reporting.
108
Valuing inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value is an application of which accounting principle?
Answer:
The prudence concept
The prudence concept, also known as conservatism, dictates that accountants should not anticipate profits but should provide for all possible losses. By valuing inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, the business ensures that assets are not overstated on the balance sheet, reflecting a cautious approach to financial reporting.
109
How does the Cost Concept contribute to the quality of financial record-keeping?
Answer:
Truthful records
The Cost Concept (or Historical Cost Principle) requires that assets be recorded at their original purchase price. This provides an objective, verifiable, and factual basis for accounting records, preventing subjective valuations and ensuring that the financial statements present a truthful and reliable view of the business's historical financial position.
110
At what point is an expense formally recognized in the accounting records?
Answer:
None of these
Under the accrual basis of accounting, expenses are recorded when they are incurred, regardless of when cash is paid. Since none of the provided options (cash payment, purchase order, or purchase) fully capture the accrual principle, 'None of these' is the correct choice.