Which of the following reflects the business's performance over a specific time period?

The income statement is the financial document that reflects a business's performance over a specific time period, typically covering revenues, expenses, and profits or losses. It provides a snapshot of how much money the company made and spent, allowing stakeholders to assess its profitability during that interval.

The balance sheet, on the other hand, offers a snapshot of the company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time, rather than over a period. The cash flow statement outlines the cash inflows and outflows over a period, focusing on liquidity but not directly on profitability. The general ledger is a comprehensive record of all transactions of a business and organizes financial data into accounts but does not provide performance metrics on its own. Thus, the income statement is the correct choice because it specifically summarizes the operational performance of a business within a defined timeframe, highlighting the consequences of business activities on earnings.