DSST Prep Financial Accounting practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q11Gross profit is calculated as
✓ Correct answer: B. Sales revenue minus cost of goods sold
Gross profit represents the difference between sales revenue and the direct cost of producing goods sold (cost of goods sold). It appears on the income statement.
Q12The DuPont analysis decomposes return on equity (ROE) into which three components?
✓ Correct answer: A. Profit margin, asset turnover, and equity multiplier
The DuPont formula breaks ROE into profit margin (profitability), total asset turnover (efficiency), and equity multiplier (leverage): ROE = Profit Margin x Asset Turnover x Equity Multiplier.
Q13If a company's marginal tax rate is 35% and its average tax rate is 28%, which rate should be used for evaluating a new project?
✓ Correct answer: D. The marginal tax rate of 35%
The marginal tax rate should be used for decision making because it represents the tax rate applied to the next dollar of income, which is relevant for evaluating incremental projects.
Q14Which of the following appears on both the income statement and the statement of cash flows?
✓ Correct answer: C. Interest expense
Interest expense appears as an expense on the income statement and is also part of the operating activities section of the statement of cash flows (under the indirect method).
Q15The times interest earned ratio measures a company's ability to
✓ Correct answer: B. Meet its interest obligations
The times interest earned ratio (EBIT divided by interest expense) measures how many times a company can cover its interest obligations with operating income, indicating solvency.
Q16Inventory turnover ratio is calculated as
✓ Correct answer: A. Cost of goods sold divided by average inventory
Inventory turnover measures how many times inventory is sold and replaced during a period. It is calculated by dividing cost of goods sold by average inventory.
Q17Pro forma financial statements are used primarily for
✓ Correct answer: D. Financial planning and forecasting
Pro forma statements are projected financial statements used for planning and forecasting future financial performance based on assumptions about future business conditions.
Q18On the statement of cash flows, the purchase of treasury stock would be classified as a
✓ Correct answer: C. Financing activity
Treasury stock purchases involve the company buying back its own shares, which is a transaction with owners and therefore classified as a financing activity.
Q19The asset turnover ratio measures
✓ Correct answer: B. How efficiently assets are used to generate sales
Asset turnover (Sales divided by Total Assets) measures how efficiently a company uses its assets to generate sales revenue. Higher turnover indicates better asset utilization.
Q20Which of the following would cause total stockholders' equity to increase?
✓ Correct answer: A. Net income for the period
Net income increases retained earnings, which is a component of stockholders' equity. Profitable operations increase the equity of the company.
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