Final answer:
An auditor would issue an adverse opinion if the financial statements significantly misrepresent the company's financial condition and operations. This opinion reflects serious issues with the financial statements, rather than problems like adverse attitudes or the auditor's qualifications.
Step-by-step explanation:
An auditor would issue an adverse opinion if the financial statements taken as a whole do not fairly present the financial condition and results of operations of the company. This is the most severe type of report an auditor can issue and it suggests that there are material misstatements within the financial statements that are pervasive, and the financial statements do not accurately reflect the company's financial status. The auditor may issue other types of opinions, such as an unqualified opinion (when the auditor believes the financial statements are presented fairly), a qualified opinion (when there are certain exceptions to the financial statements being presented fairly), or a disclaimer of opinion (when the auditor cannot form an opinion). When issues such as adverse attitudes towards the auditor or the auditor's qualifications are present, these do not directly lead to an adverse opinion. Instead, these issues may lead to a different report outcome or to the auditor declining the engagement. An immaterial misstatement would not typically result in an adverse opinion, as adverse opinions are reserved for situations where misstatements are both material and pervasive.