Questions: The purpose of an audit is to a. render an opinion on the fairness of the statements b. determine whether or not a company is a good investment c. determine whether or not a company complies with corporate social responsibility d. determine whether or not a company is a good credit risk

The answer is A: render an opinion on the fairness of the statements.

Explanation for each option:

a. Render an opinion on the fairness of the statements - This is the correct answer. The primary purpose of an audit is to provide an independent opinion on whether a company's financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. This involves assessing the accuracy and completeness of the financial information provided by the company.

b. Determine whether or not a company is a good investment - This is incorrect. While audited financial statements can provide valuable information to investors, the audit itself is not intended to assess the investment potential of a company. Investment decisions involve additional analysis beyond the scope of an audit.

c. Determine whether or not a company complies with corporate social responsibility - This is incorrect. An audit focuses on financial statements and does not typically assess a company's compliance with corporate social responsibility, which involves evaluating a company's ethical, social, and environmental practices.

d. Determine whether or not a company is a good credit risk - This is incorrect. Although audited financial statements can be used by creditors to assess credit risk, the audit's purpose is not to determine the creditworthiness of a company. Credit risk assessment involves a broader analysis of financial health and other factors.