Which of the following could be a flexible procedure applied to financial statement line items?

The option identified deals specifically with a concrete approach to analyzing financial statement line items by obtaining detailed data breakdowns and examining a sample of that data. This method aligns well with the objectives of an audit, which seeks to verify the accuracy and completeness of financial statements.

By breaking down the financial data, auditors can gain insights into specific components contributing to financial statement line items, allowing for a more manageable and targeted examination. Sampling can also provide a practical means of assessing accuracy without needing to examine every individual transaction, thus demonstrating a form of flexibility in the auditing process.

Other options may provide useful insights or assessments related to the financial statements or the broader financial environment but do not directly serve as flexible procedures for auditing line items. Evaluating past sales trends, while potentially informative, cannot be classified as a procedure directly applied to specific line items during an audit. Using external auditors for review involves additional layers of oversight rather than a flexible procedure applied within an audit context. Finally, assessing market risks is a strategic consideration rather than a direct auditing procedure focused on specific line items.