Which of the following questions could NOT be answered from the statement of cash flows?

• A. What is the total amount of revenue earned during the period?
• B. What was the total amount of cash paid for dividends during the period?
• C. How much cash was generated from operating activities during the period?
• D. What is the total amount of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period?

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of the statement of cash flows: It provides information about cash inflows and outflows during a specific period, categorized into operating, investing, and financing activities.
2. Identify the type of information provided by the statement of cash flows: It includes details such as cash generated from operating activities, cash paid for dividends, and the total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period.
3. Recognize the limitation of the statement of cash flows: It does not provide information about non-cash items, such as total revenue earned during the period, which is typically found in the income statement.
4. Compare each question to the information available in the statement of cash flows: Determine whether the question pertains to cash-related activities or non-cash items.
5. Conclude that the question 'What is the total amount of revenue earned during the period?' cannot be answered from the statement of cash flows, as revenue is not a cash-based metric and is reported in the income statement instead.