Unit 3 of 5

Unit 3: Liabilities and Equity

Study guide for CLEP CLEP Financial AccountingUnit 3: Liabilities and Equity. Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.

114

Practice Questions

26

Flashcards

4

Key Topics

Key Concepts to Study

current vs long-term liabilities
bonds payable
stockholders' equity
retained earnings and dividends

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 5 questions from this unit. Sign up for full access to all 114.

Q1EASY

A company has $100,000 in assets, $40,000 in liabilities, and $60,000 in equity. What is the correct relationship between these accounts?

A) Assets = Liabilities + Equity
B) Assets = Liabilities - Equity
C) Assets = Equity - Liabilities
D) Assets = Liabilities / Equity
Show Answer

Answer: AThe correct answer is A because the accounting equation states that Assets = Liabilities + Equity. This equation reflects the fact that a company's assets are financed by either liabilities (debts) or equity (investments by owners). The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately represent the accounting equation. Option B is incorrect because subtracting equity from liabilities would not equal assets. Option C is incorrect because subtracting liabilities from equity would not equal assets. Option D is incorrect because dividing liabilities by equity would not equal assets.

Q2MEDIUM

Mason Company has a 6-month note payable with a face value of $10,000 and an interest rate of 8%. The note was issued on January 1. As of June 30, what amount should Mason Company report as current liabilities related to this note?

A) $10,800
B) $10,000
C) $10,400
D) $9,600
Show Answer

Answer: DMason Company should report the face value of the note plus the interest accrued from January 1 to June 30. The interest is calculated as $10,000 * 8% * 6/12 = $400, and the total amount is $10,000 + $400 = $10,400 for the note and interest. However, since the note is exactly at the 6-month mark, it will be due, and the interest for the next 6 months will also be a liability. Therefore, the total amount is $10,000 + $800 = $10,800. Options B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the total amount of the liability as of June 30.

Q3MEDIUM

Mason Inc. is a retail company that operates in several states. The company has a total debt of $1 million, consisting of a $600,000 long-term loan and a $400,000 short-term loan. The company's total equity is $2 million. What is the correct classification of the $400,000 short-term loan on the balance sheet?

A) Long-term liability
B) Equity
C) Asset
D) Current liability
Show Answer

Answer: BThe correct answer is D) Current liability. The $400,000 short-term loan is a current liability because it is due to be paid within one year or within the company's operating cycle, whichever is longer. A) Long-term liability is incorrect because the loan is short-term. B) Equity is incorrect because the loan is a liability, not an ownership interest. C) Asset is incorrect because the loan is a debt obligation, not an asset.

Q4MEDIUM

Mason Inc. is a company that operates in the retail industry. The company has a total debt of $1 million, which includes a $300,000 long-term note payable due in 5 years and a $700,000 short-term loan due in 6 months. If the company's management decides to refinance the short-term loan by issuing a new long-term note payable, what would be the effect on the company's current ratio?

A) The current ratio would increase because the short-term loan would be reclassified as a long-term liability.
B) The current ratio would decrease because the long-term note payable would increase the company's total debt.
C) The current ratio would remain unchanged because the total debt would remain the same.
D) The current ratio would increase because the company's current assets would increase.
Show Answer

Answer: DThe correct answer is A because refinancing the short-term loan by issuing a new long-term note payable would reclassify the short-term loan as a long-term liability, which would decrease the company's current liabilities and increase the current ratio. The other options are incorrect because refinancing the short-term loan would not decrease the current ratio (B), would not leave the current ratio unchanged (C), and would not increase the company's current assets (D).

Q5MEDIUM

Mackenzie Inc. is a retail company that operates in several states. The company has a total of $100,000 in accounts payable and $50,000 in notes payable due within the next year. In addition, the company has a long-term mortgage of $200,000 with 10 years remaining. What is the total amount of Mackenzie Inc.'s current liabilities?

A) $150,000
B) $250,000
C) $300,000
D) $350,000
Show Answer

Answer: AThe correct answer is A) $150,000 because current liabilities are those that are due within one year or within the company's operating cycle, whichever is longer. In this case, the accounts payable and notes payable are both due within the next year, so they are considered current liabilities. The long-term mortgage is not due within the next year, so it is not a current liability. The other options are incorrect because they include the long-term mortgage, which is not a current liability.

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Study Tips for Unit 3: Liabilities and Equity

  • Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing facts — CLEP tests application
  • Practice with timed questions to build exam-day speed
  • Review explanations for wrong answers — they reveal common misconceptions
  • Use flashcards for key terms, practice questions for deeper understanding

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