Short-term actions boosting quick assets or reducing current liabilities Steps:

• Define acid-test ratio as (cash + receivables + short-term investments) / current liabilities, focusing on immediate liquidity.
• Assess option 1: Selling inventory converts non-quick assets to quick assets but requires time for sales process, not immediate in short term.
• Assess option 2: Delaying trade payables retains existing cash, immediately increasing numerator without altering liabilities.
• Assess option 3: Selling surplus non-current assets generates quick cash inflow promptly, raising numerator.
• Assess option 4: Not enough information on the action.

Why B is correct:

• Options 2 and 3 directly increase quick assets per the acid-test formula without relying on operational sales delays.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Includes 1 (not short-term) and 4 (insufficient details to confirm improvement).
• C: Omits 2, which retains cash for immediate liquidity gain.
• D: Relies solely on 4, lacking evidence of short-term benefit.

Final answer: B