Final answer:
While reconciling Clanton Industries' bank statement, the correct action for an uncleared check is to deduct the amount from the bank balance, not the book balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When preparing the July 31 bank reconciliation for Clanton Industries, and addressing the outstanding check of $967 that has not cleared the bank, the appropriate action according to general accounting practices is C. Deduct the check amount from the bank balance. This means that when reconciling the bank statement with the company's ledger, you should recognize that the bank has not yet processed the check, so its balance is higher than what the company's books will show once the check clears. The bank balance is adjusted downwards (or deducted) by the check amount to match the company's books which already show the check as an expense.