chapter 1: mcq

Question 1

The concept of reasonable assurance suggests that
a. the cost of an internal control should be less than the benefit it provides
b. a well-designed system of internal controls will detect all fraudulent activity
c. the objectives achieved by an internal control system vary depending on the data processing
method
d. the effectiveness of internal controls is a function of the industry environment

Answer 1

a. the cost of an internal control should be less than the benefit it provides

Question 2

Which of the following is not a limitation of the internal control system?
a. errors are made due to employee fatigue
b. fraud occurs because of collusion between two employees
c. the industry is inherently risky
d. management instructs the bookkeeper to make fraudulent journal entries

Answer 2

c. the industry is inherently risky

Question 3

The most cost-effective type of internal control is
a. preventive control
b. accounting control
c. detective control
d. corrective control

Answer 3

a. preventive control

Question 4

Which of the following is a preventive control?
a. credit check before approving a sale on account
b. bank reconciliation
c. physical inventory count
d. comparing the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger to the control account

Answer 4

a. credit check before approving a sale on account

Question 5

A well-designed purchase order is an example of a
a. preventive control
b. detective control
c. corrective control
d. none of the above

Answer 5

a. preventive control

Question 6

A physical inventory count is an example of a
a. preventive control
b. detective control
c. corrective control
d. Feed-forward control

Answer 6

b. detective control

Question 7

The bank reconciliation uncovered a transposition error in the books. This is an example of a
a. preventive control
b. detective control
c. corrective control
d. none of the above

Answer 7

b. detective control

Question 8

Which of the following is not an element of the internal control environment?
a. management philosophy and operating style
b. organizational structure of the firm
c. well-designed documents and records
d. the functioning of the board of directors and the audit committee

Answer 8

c. well-designed documents and records

Question 9

Which of the following suggests a weakness in the internal control environment?
a. the firm has an up-to-date organizational chart
b. monthly reports comparing actual performance to budget are distributed to managers
c. performance evaluations are prepared every three years
d. the audit committee meets quarterly with the external auditors

Answer 9

c. performance evaluations are prepared every three years

Question 10

Which of the following indicates a strong internal control environment?
a. the internal audit group reports to the audit committee of the board of directors
b. there is no segregation of duties between organization functions
c. there are questions about the integrity of management
d. adverse business conditions exist in the industry

Answer 10

a. the internal audit group reports to the audit committee of the board of directors

Question 11

According to COSO, an effective accounting system performs all of the following except
a. identifies and records all valid financial transactions
b. records financial transactions in the appropriate accounting period
c. separates the duties of data entry and report generation
d. records all financial transactions promptly

Answer 11

c. separates the duties of data entry and report generation

Question 12

Which of the following is the best reason to separate duties in a manual system?

a. to avoid collusion between the programmer and the computer operator
b. to ensure that supervision is not required
c. to prevent the record keeper from authorizing transactions
d. to enable the firm to function more efficiently

Answer 12

c. to prevent the record keeper from authorizing transactions

Question 13

Which of the following is not an internal control procedure?
a. authorization
b. management’s operating style
c. independent verification
d. accounting records

Answer 13

b. management’s operating style

Question 14

The decision to extend credit beyond the normal credit limit is an example of
a. independent verification
b. authorization
c. segregation of functions
d. supervision

Answer 14

b. authorization

Question 15

When duties cannot be segregated, the most important internal control procedure is
a. supervision
b. independent verification
c. access controls
d. accounting records

Answer 15

a. supervision

Question 16

An accounting system that maintains an adequate audit trail is implementing which internal control procedure?
a. access controls
b. segregation of functions
c. independent verification
d. accounting records

Answer 16

d. accounting records

Question 17

The importance to the accounting profession of the Sarbanes-Oxely Act is that
a. bribery will be eliminated
b. management will not override the company’s internal controls
c. management are required to certify their internal control system
d. firms will not be exposed to lawsuits

Answer 17

c. management are required to certify their internal control system

Question 18

The board of directors consists entirely of personal friends of the chief executive officer. This indicates a weakness in
a. the accounting system
b. the control environment
c. control procedures
d. this is not a weakness

Answer 18

b. the control environment

Question 19

The office manager forgot to record in the accounting records the daily bank deposit. Which control procedure would most likely prevent or detect this error?
a. segregation of duties
b. independent verification
c. accounting records
d. supervision

Answer 19

b. independent verification

Question 20

Control activities under SAS 109/COSO include
a. IT Controls, preventative controls, and Corrective controls
b. physical controls, preventative controls, and corrective controls.
c. general controls, application controls, and physical controls.
d. transaction authorizations, segregation of duties, and risk assessment

Answer 20

c. general controls, application controls, and physical controls.

Question 21

Internal control system have limitations. These include all of the following except
a. possibility of honest error
b. circumvention
c. management override
d. stability of systems

Answer 21

d. stability of systems

Question 22

Management can expect various benefits to follow from implementing a system of strong internal control. Which of the following benefits is least likely to occur?
a. reduced cost of an external audit.
b. prevents employee collusion to commit fraud.
c. availability of reliable data for decision-making purposes.
d. some assurance of compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
e. some assurance that important documents and records are protected.

Answer 22

b. prevents employee collusion to commit fraud.

Question 23

Which of the following situations is not a segregation of duties violation?
a. The treasurer has the authority to sign checks but gives the signature block to the assistant
treasurer to run the check-signing machine.
b. The warehouse clerk, who has the custodial responsibility over inventory in the warehouse,
selects the vendor and authorizes purchases when inventories are low.
c. The sales manager has the responsibility to approve credit and the authority to write off
accounts.
d. The department time clerk is given the undistributed payroll checks to mail to absent
employees.
e. The accounting clerk who shares the record keeping responsibility for the accounts
receivable subsidiary ledger performs the monthly reconciliation of the subsidiary ledger and the control account.

Answer 23

b. The warehouse clerk, who has the custodial responsibility over inventory in the warehouse,
selects the vendor and authorizes purchases when inventories are low.

Question 24

Which concept is not an integral part of an audit?
a. evaluating internal controls
b. preparing financial statements
c. expressing an opinion
d. analyzing financial data

Answer 24

b. preparing financial statements

Question 25

Which statement is not true? a. Auditors must maintain independence. b. IT auditors attest to the integrity of the computer system. c. IT auditing is independent of the general financial audit. d. IT auditing can be performed by both external and internal auditors.

Answer 25

c. IT auditing is independent of the general financial audit.

Question 26

Typically, internal auditors perform all of the following tasks except a. IT audits b. evaluation of operational efficiency c. review of compliance with legal obligations d. internal auditors perform all of the above tasks

Answer 26

d. internal auditors perform all of the above tasks

Question 27

The fundamental difference between internal and external auditing is that a. internal auditors represent the interests of the organization and external auditors represent outsiders b. internal auditors perform IT audits and external auditors perform financial statement audits c. internal auditors focus on financial statement audits and external auditors focus on operational audits and financial statement audits d. external auditors assist internal auditors but internal auditors cannot assist external auditors

Answer 27

a. internal auditors represent the interests of the organization and external auditors represent outsiders

Question 28

Internal auditors assist external auditors with financial audits to a. reduce audit fees b. ensure independence c. represent the interests of management d. the statement is not true; internal auditors are not permitted to assist external auditors with financial audits

Answer 28

a. reduce audit fees

Question 29

Which statement is not correct? a. Auditors gather evidence using tests of controls and substantive tests. b. The most important element in determining the level of materiality is the mathematical formula. c. Auditors express an opinion in their audit report. d. Auditors compare evidence to established criteria.

Answer 29

b. The most important element in determining the level of materiality is the mathematical formula.

Question 30

All of the following are steps in an IT audit except a. substantive testing b. tests of controls c. post-audit testing d. audit planning

Answer 30

c. post-audit testing

Question 31

When planning the audit, information is gathered by all of the following methods except a. completing questionnaires b. interviewing management c. observing activities d. confirming accounts receivable

Answer 31

d. confirming accounts receivable

Question 32

Substantive tests include a. examining the safety deposit box for stock certificates b. reviewing systems documentation c. completing questionnaires d. observation

Answer 32

a. examining the safety deposit box for stock certificates

Question 33

Tests of controls include a. confirming accounts receivable b. counting inventory c. completing questionnaires d. counting cash

Answer 33

c. completing questionnaires

Question 34

All of the following are components of audit risk except a. control risk b. legal risk c. detection risk d. inherent risk

Answer 34

b. legal risk

Question 35

Control risk is a. the probability that the auditor will render an unqualified opinion on financial statements that are materially misstated b. associated with the unique characteristics of the business or industry of the client c. the likelihood that the control structure is flawed because controls are either absent or inadequate to prevent or detect errors in the accounts d. the risk that auditors are willing to take that errors not detected or prevented by the control structure will also not be detected by the auditor

Answer 35

c. the likelihood that the control structure is flawed because controls are either absent or inadequate to prevent or detect errors in the accounts

Question 36

Which of the following is true? a. In the CBIS environment, auditors gather evidence relating only to the contents of databases, not the reliability of the computer system. b. Conducting an audit is a systematic and logical process that applies to all forms of information systems. c. Substantive tests establish whether internal controls are functioning properly. d. IT auditors prepare the audit report if the system is computerized.

Answer 36

b. Conducting an audit is a systematic and logical process that applies to all forms of information systems.

Question 37

Inherent risk a. exists because all control structures are flawed in some ways. b. is the likelihood that material misstatements exist in the financial statements of the firm. c. is associated with the unique characteristics of the business or industry of the client. d. is the likelihood that the auditor will not find material misstatements.

Answer 37

c. is associated with the unique characteristics of the business or industry of the client.

Question 38

Attestation services require all of the following except a. written assertions and a practitioner’s written report b. the engagement is designed to conduct risk assessment of the client’s systems to verify their degree of SOX compliance c. the formal establishment of measurements criteria d. the engagement is limited to examination, review, and application of agreed-upon procedures

Answer 38

b. the engagement is designed to conduct risk assessment of the client’s systems to verify their degree of SOX compliance

Question 39

The financial statements of an organization reflect a set of management assertions about the financial health of the business. All of the following describe types of assertions except a. that all of the assets and equities on the balance sheet exist b. that all employees are properly trained to carry out their assigned duties c. that all transactions on the income statement actually occurred d. that all allocated amounts such as depreciation are calculated on a systematic and rational basis

Answer 39

b. that all employees are properly trained to carry out their assigned duties

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT an implication of section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act? a. Auditors must determine, whether changes in internal control has, or is likely to, materially affect internal control over financial reporting. b. Auditors must interview management regarding significant changes in the design or operation of internal control that occurred since the last audit. c. Corporate management (including the CEO) must certify monthly and annually their organization’s internal controls over financial reporting. d. Management must disclose any material changes in the company’s internal controls that have occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter.

Answer 40

c. Corporate management (including the CEO) must certify monthly and annually their organization’s internal controls over financial reporting.