CPA-Business Exam Questions and Answers

QUESTION: 97

Smith was an officer of CCC Corp. As an officer, the business judgment rule applies to Smith in which of the following ways?

Because Smith is not a director, the rule does not apply.
If Smith makes, in good faith, a serious but honest mistake in judgment, Smith is generally not liable to CCC for damages caused.
If Smith makes, in good faith, a serious but honest mistake in judgment, Smith is generally liable to CCC for damages caused, but CCC may elect to reimburse Smith for any damages Smith paid.
If Smith makes, in good faith, a serious but honest mistake in judgment, Smith is generally liable to CCC for damages caused, and CCC is prohibited from reimbursing Smith for any damages Smith paid.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Choice "b" is correct. The business judgment rule applies to officers as well as directors, who in their capacity, act in a manner the officer believes to be in the best interest of the corporation, and with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise. If the standards of the business judgment rule are met, the officer is not liable to the company for resulting damages. Choices "a", "c", and "d" are incorrect, per the above rule.

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QUESTION: 98

In which type of business entity is the entire ownership interest most freely transferable?

General partnership.
Limited partnership.
Corporation.
Limited liability company.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Choice "c" is correct. Among the business entities listed, entire ownership interests are most freely transferable in a corporation. Unless transferability is restricted by contract (restricted shares or voting trusts or voting agreements), there are no restrictions on the sale of corporate stock (the common stock represents the stockholders' ownership interest). The right to transfer ownership interests freely is one of the advantages of the corporate form of business. Choice "a" is incorrect. A general partner in a general partnership may assign his or her right to receive profits or surplus. A general partner cannot assign his interest and confer partnership status on the assignee without unanimous consent of all other partners. Choice "b" is incorrect. Both general partners and limited partners in a limited partnership may assign the right to receive profits and surplus. Neither general nor limited partners can confer general or limited partnership status on the assignee without the unanimous consent of all general and all limited partners.
Choice "d" is incorrect. In most states, limited liability company (LLC) members may not sell and confer ownership interest without the consent of all LLC members.

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QUESTION: 99

Which of the following statements is correct regarding both debt and common shares of a corporation?

Common shares represent an ownership interest in the corporation, but debt holders do not have an ownership interest.
Common shareholders and debt holders have an ownership interest in the corporation.
Common shares typically have a fixed maturity date, but debt does not.
Common shares have a higher priority on liquidation than debt.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Choice "a" is correct. Common shares represent an investment in the corporation whereby the common shareholder becomes a part owner of the corporation. A debt holder is a creditor of the corporation. The corporation has borrowed money from the debt holder and promises to repay at a later date. A debt holder is not an owner of the corporation. Choice "b" is incorrect. Unlike a common shareholder, a debt holder does not have an ownership interest in the corporation.
Choice "c" is incorrect. Common shares do not have a fixed maturity date, but debt securities do. This answer is backwards.
Choice "d" is incorrect. Upon liquidation of a corporation, the creditors of the corporation are paid first.
After the creditors are paid, the shareholders are paid on a pro rata basis. Thus, debt holders (creditors) have a higher priority than stockholders.

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QUESTION: 100

Which of the following is an advantage of forming a limited liability company (LLC) as opposed to a partnership?

The entity may avoid taxation.
The entity may have any number of owners.
The owner may participate in management while limiting personal liability.
The entity may make disproportionate allocations and distributions to members.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Choice "c" is correct. A member in a limited liability company has limited liability and the ability to manage, while a partner in a general partnership has full liability and the ability to manage. Choice "a" is incorrect. Generally, both entities' profits are taxable at the ownership level, but a Limited Liability Company may be taxed as an entity if it so elects. Choice "b" is incorrect. Both entities may have any number of owners. Choice "d" is incorrect. Both entities may make disproportionate allocations and distributions to their owners.

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QUESTION: 101

In which type of business organization are income taxes always required to be paid by the entity on profits earned as well as by the owners upon distribution thereof?

General partnership.
Limited liability company.
Subchapter C corporation.
Subchapter S corporation.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Choice "c" is correct. A Subchapter C corporation is taxed as an entity for income tax purposes. Additionally, distributions made to stockholders are treated as taxable income to the stockholders. [Note that this type of corporation is more often called a C corporation instead of a Subchapter C corporation.]
Choice "a" is incorrect. A general partnership is not taxed as a separate entity for income tax purposes.
Choice "b" is incorrect. An LLC is not taxed as a separate entity for income tax purposes unless the LLC specifically elects to be taxed like a corporation. [Of course, the word "always" in the question takes care of that.]
Choice "d" is incorrect. A Subchapter S corporation is taxed as a partnership. Thus, it is not taxed as a separate entity for income tax purposes. [Note that this type of corporation is more often called an S corporation instead of a Subchapter S corporation.]

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QUESTION: 102

Under the Revised Model Business Corporation Act, following what type of corporate acquisition does the acquiring corporation automatically become liable for all obligations of the acquired corporation?

A leveraged buyout of assets.
An acquisition of stock for debt securities.
A cash tender offer.
A merger.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Choice "d" is correct. A merger involves one corporation joining with another corporation. The surviving corporation has all of the rights and liabilities of the merged corporation. Thus, the acquiring corporation automatically becomes liable for all obligations of the acquired corporation. Choice "a" is incorrect. A leveraged buyout is a strategy involving the acquisition of another corporation using a significant amount of borrowed money (bonds or loans). Often, the assets of the corporation being acquired are used as collateral for the loans (in addition to the assets of the acquiring corporation).
The acquiring corporation does not automatically become liable for all (or any) obligations of the acquired corporation if it merely acquires another corporation's assets. Choice "b" is incorrect. An acquisition of stock for debt securities does not make the acquiring corporation liable for the obligations of the acquired corporation. The acquiring corporation has simply purchased stock. In an acquisition of stock for debt securities, the acquired corporation becomes a subsidiary of the acquiring corporation and the acquired corporation remains a separate entity liable for its own obligations.
Choice "c" is incorrect. A cash tender offer is an offer to purchase a corporation's stock directly from its shareholders at a specified price for a specified period of time. In a cash tender offer, the acquiring corporation does not automatically become liable for all obligations of the acquired corporation. In fact, if there is only an offer, there is no transaction at all.

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QUESTION: 103

Which of the following actions is required to ensure the validity of a contract between a corporation and a director of the corporation?

An independent appraiser must render to the board of directors a fairness opinion on the contract.
The director must disclose the interest to the independent members of the board and refrain from voting.
The shareholders must review and ratify the contract.
The director must resign from the board of directors.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Choice "b" is clearly the best answer here, although it is not completely correct. Directors owe their corporation a duty of loyalty and must act solely in the best interests of the corporation. If a corporation enters into a contract and a director has a conflict of interest in the transaction, the contract is voidable unless the director makes full disclosure of all of the facts to the disinterested directors or the shareholders who then approve the transaction, or the transaction is fair. Thus, disclosing the interest to the independent members and refraining from voting is one way to ensure the validity of a contract between a director and his or her corporation, but it technically is not required as disclosure to and approval by the shareholders also ensures validity, as does making sure the transaction is fair to the corporation. Nevertheless, the other choices are clearly incorrect - making this the best choice.
Choice "a" is incorrect. A transaction with an interested director will be upheld if it is fair, but it is not necessary to hire an independent appraiser to prove fairness. Choice "c" is incorrect. One method of approving a contract with an interested director is to disclose all of the material facts to the shareholders and seek their approval. Merely allowing the shareholders to review the contract is not sufficient.
Choice "d" is incorrect. To ensure the validity of a contract between a corporation and a director of the corporation, it is not necessary for the director to resign from the board (i.e., a director is not required to resign because of a conflict of interest). The corporation can approve the conflict if it is disclosed and the director does not participate in the approval process.

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QUESTION: 104

Which of the following statements is correct regarding the declaration of a stock dividend by a corporation having only one class of par value stock?

A stock dividend is prohibited in such a corporation.
A stock dividend increases a stockholder's proportionate share of corporate ownership.
A stock dividend causes a decrease in the assets of the corporation.
A stock dividend is a corporation's ratable distribution of additional shares of stock to its stockholders.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Choice "d" is correct. Stock dividends are dividends in the corporation's own authorized but unissued shares given to existing shareholders on account of their shares. Choice "a" is incorrect. Despite the fact that a stock dividend in a corporation with only one class of par value stock does not change a shareholder's proportional ownership or affect capitalization of the corporation, nothing prohibits a corporation--even a corporation with only one class of par value stock--from declaring a stock dividend.
Choice "b" is incorrect. With a stock dividend, when there is only one class of stock, each shareholder receives a proportionate amount of stock, resulting in each shareholder owning the same percentage of the corporation after the dividend is issued as he or she owned before the dividend was issued. Choice "c" is incorrect.
When a stock dividend is issued in a corporation's own stock, no assets are distributed and the solvency of the corporation remains the same.

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AICPA CPA-Business Exam (page: 13) AICPA CPA Business Environment and Concepts Updated on: 15-Feb-2026

QUESTION: 97

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QUESTION: 98

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QUESTION: 99

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QUESTION: 100

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QUESTION: 101

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QUESTION: 102

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QUESTION: 103

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QUESTION: 104

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AICPA CPA-Business Exam (page: 13)
AICPA CPA Business Environment and Concepts
Updated on: 15-Feb-2026