When Beck joined his uncle's oil exploration company in east Texas, he was given several hundred shares of stock in the firm, and was officially made a partner. The firm's accountant explained that the company paid taxes the same way as regular partnerships, by passing the profits through to each partner. Beck could purchase more shares of the company on a public stock exchange, as long as someone was willing to sell his/her shares. This firm was likely a special form of ownership called a:_______.
a. master limited partnership.
b. limited partnership.
c. generally acceptable partnership.
d. strategic alliance.